NLP (Neuro-linguistic programming)

What is it?

Neuro– The nervous system (the mind), through which your experiences are processed via the five senses

  • Visual – sights, what we see
  • Auditory – sounds, what we hear
  • Kinaesthetic – touch, what we feel
  • Olfactory - smell
  • Gustatory – taste

Linguistic– Language and other non-verbal communication systems through which your neural representations are coded, ordered and given meaning

  • Pictures
  • Sounds
  • Feelings
  • Tastes
  • Smells
  • Words (self-talk)

Programming– The ability to discover and utilize the programs that we run (our communication to ourselves and others) in our nervous system to achieve our specific and desired outcomes.

NLP is a series of tools, processes and techniques that have been developed from years of studying ‘experts’ in their field.  The principle belief is that when someone does something well, they have a particular strategy or process which helps them do it.  Once you discover their process/strategy you can copy it and achieve the same results.

Some of the tools and techniques are:

“In the province of the mind, what one believes to be true either is true or becomes true.”
John Lilly
  • Using visualisation to help change your beliefs (I don’t believe I can sing!)
  • Language models – hypnotic and specific language patterns to communicate with the unconscious mind
  • Anchoring – remembering  times when you were in positive states (happy, confident etc.) and anchoring them to something (knuckles) so that any time you need them you can bring the state back
  • Strategies – motivation, decision making, reassurance.  This helps to change strategies that are not helpful e.g. shopping, sleeping. 
  • Values – discovering what your values are in certain areas of your life.  These are totally unconscious and influence what happens and what you get in different areas of your life
  • Parts integration – resolves conflict in your life.  ‘Part of me wants to live in England and part of me wants to live abroad’.  ‘Part of me believes I can... and part of me doesn’t’
  • Phobia model – gets rid of fears and phobias e.g. spiders, heights, open spaces, crowds, flying.  OCD’s (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) and PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) fall into this category.
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What to expect

  • Fun!  Most of the tools and techniques are quite fun to do
  • Lots of questions
  • Easy practical exercises (not physical) and full participation
  • Quick (often instant) results – not hours of just talking about problems but solving them quickly
  • Some dramatic positive changes in behaviour and emotions
  • A greater understanding of how your mind works
  • Tools and techniques for you to take away and use whenever you need to
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How can it help?

“Change your thoughts and you change your world.”
Norman Vincent Peale (1898 - 1993)
  • Eliminate fears and phobias
  • Increase confidence
  • Stop smoking
  • Lose weight
  • Increase self-esteem
  • Being assertive
  • Sleep soundly
  • Have healthy relationships
  • Bereavement
  • Exam/Interview nerves
  • Improve spelling
  • Personal development
  • Changes unwanted beliefs and behaviours
  • Uncovers hidden resources you didn’t know you had
  • Helps you achieve your goals