What is Neuro-Linguistic Programming?

By Judith E. Pearson, Ph.D.

Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) is the cutting edge psychology with applications in coaching, counseling, psychotherapy, sports, business, sales, and behavioral health. This article will explain the history of NLP, what it is, and what it can do for YOU.

Background

In the 1970s. two researchers at the University of Santa Cruz, in California, conducted a linguistic study of the leading psychotherapists of the day. Richard Bandler and Dr. John Grinder analyzed communication patterns of Virginia Satir (renowned family therapist), Dr. Fritz Perls (founder of Gestalt Psychotherapy), and Dr. Milton Erickson (psychiatrist and internationally famous hypnotherapist). Drawing from Alfred Korzybski’s work in General Semantics, Bandler and Grinder modeled the language patterns of these psychotherapists and distilled a new method of counseling and teaching called Neuro-Linguistic Programming.

They taught others how NLP could facilitate lasting, dramatic behavioral change in a short time. They certified practitioners and trainers who formed training institutes across the U.S. In the 1980s, practitioners took NLP into sports, health, business, and sales training, teaching people to achieve excellence. Today, NLP is practiced and taught worldwide, with hundreds of books and workshop offerings on the subject.

NLP Philosophy

NLP is based on basic philosophical tenets about human nature. These ideas aren’t necessarily universal truths, but useful ways of thinking about people and self-improvement. Here are a few:

  • People do not operate on reality. They operate on their internal maps of reality. These maps are always imperfect. NLP helps us understand our maps and improve them.
  • People perceive the world through the senses. Our thoughts and emotions are internal images, conversation and sound, physical sensations, and remembered tastes and smells. In NLP we call these internal channels Visual, Auditory, Kinesthetic, and Olfactory/Gustatory. By describing our internal processes in these terms, we can tell others about our internal ways of thinking and feeling.
  • Human thought, behaviors, and feelings have structures or patterns. NLP improves those structures, so that people have increased flexibility in their thinking, behavior, and feelings.
  • Self-improvement methods are not useful, lasting, or effective if they conflict with needs and values. NLP teaches us to honor needs and values to feel congruent about the changes we make.
  • The cause of some behaviors and emotions lies outside of conscious awareness. NLP works with both the conscious mind and the “subconscious” mind, through hypnotic processes.
  • People communicate verbally and non-verbally. Both kinds of communication are valuable. NLP helps people better understand the meaning of both kinds of communication.
  • People have the internal resources they need to make the changes they desire. NLP helps people access these resources.
  • Most behaviors, even problematic ones, are based on underlying positive intentions, which may reside in the unconscious mind. NLP brings about the insights that explain underlying motivations.

NLP Methods

NLP is based on communication patterns and structured, cognitive exercises that combine conversation, hypnotic language, metaphor, visualization, eye movements, physical movement, breathing and posture. NLP is process-oriented.

NLP helps people change their cognitive-emotional “states” so that they can alter their behaviors. Typically, an NLP session begins with a client identifying and describing a specific aspect of behavior to improve or change. The NLP coach will ask questions designed to help define the problem. Then the client describes the “outcome” or “solution” to the problem. Then the NLP coach guides the client through a step-by-step process to obtain the solution. A singe NLP process can take ten minutes to two hours, and most practitioners work in 45-60 minute sessions. NLP methods work for individuals, groups, children, and adults. NLP methods are gentle and respectful of the individual.

Generally, NLP processes teach people to:
Understand and communicate their thought processes more coherently.

  • See problems from a new perspective.
  • Steer thinking in a new direction.
  • Access personal strengths and inner resources.
  • Focus on the solution, rather than on the problem.
  • Focus on what can be done, rather than why something happened.
  • Heal traumatic events of the past.
  • Feel empowered to cope with difficulties more effectively
  • Think optimistically about future possibilities.
  • Gain insight into the unconscious sources of some behaviors.
  • Feel congruent about the changes they make in their lives.
  • Expand their range of behavioral choices, for adaptation and flexibility.

Applications of NLP

What can NLP do for YOU? The list of NLP applications is endless, and practitioners constantly refine existing NLP processes, develop new processes, and identify new applications. NLP can be used in conjunction with hypnotherapy, coaching, counseling, psychotherapy, psychology, and numerous other disciplines for self-improvement, mastering emotional issues, healing past trauma and abuse, personal growth, learning, sports psychology, enhanced communication and interpersonal skills, and improved performance.

There are many good books and training programs in NLP. If you want to explor the advantages of NLP for yourself, I recommend you work with a counselor, therapist or coach who has certification training in NLP.



Dr. Judith E. Pearson, is a licensed psychotherapist, counselor, and coach, who is also a certified Master Practitioner and Trainer of NLP and a certified Master Clinical Hypnotherapist. She maintains a practice in Springfield, Virginia. She is the Executive Director for the National Board for Certified Clinical Hypnotherapists. Her website is www.engagethepower.com.