Neuro Linguistic Programming was developed in the 1970’s by Richard Bandler, a Gestalt therapist and computer programmer, John Grinder (a linguistics professor), Judith DeLozier, and Leslie Cameron-Bandler. They were given additional support by Gregory Bateson, a fellow professor at Santa Cruz University. They studied and utilized ideas from cybernetics, linguistics, communication theory and neurology to model the skills of 4 world renown therapists:

Virginia Satir (a founder of Family and Systemic Therapy),  Fritz Perls (developer of Gestalt Therapy), Frank Farrelly (Provocative Therapy) and Milton Erickson, an eminent psychiatrist and hypnotherapist.  From them, the formulators identified the specific, successful and repeatable behavioral patterns that they used to achieve the success which they had with patients and clients. They were also able to replicate these patterns and teach them to others.

From this initial work they produced two language models, the Meta Model (aka ‘The Language Of Precision Communication’) and the Milton Model (‘The Language Of Influence’).  They also produced a series of ‘change techniques’ (including ‘Change Personal History’, ‘The Swish’, and ‘Fast Phobia Relief’).

More importantly, they formalized the techniques and approaches that they had used in the modeling work itself. This set of models, techniques and processes has become known as Neuro Linguistic Programming.

The name “NLP” was chosen as it encompassed the three most important components of human experience - neurology, language, and programming (or patterning).

Our neurology regulates how our bodies function and affects our internal sensations and emotions and also our external behaviors. Our language determines one of the main ways in which we interact with the world and communicate with other people.  Our programming (or patterning) determines the kinds of ‘models of the world’ we create.  In essence, NLP explores the dynamics between mind and body (neuro), and language (linguistic), and how their interplay (programming) affects our behaviors.

The field of NLP developed out of the modeling of human thinking skills.  Modeling is the process of taking a complex event or series of events and breaking it down into small enough ‘chunks’ so that it can be repeated in a manageable way. The most significant contribution of NLP is that it enables us to model human thinking skills, and to organize the results into step-by-step strategies or programs, which can then be taught to others. These strategies can often be transferred into other contexts or content areas.

An example of this is 'motivation'. If we can find someone who motivates themselves very well then we can go to that person and find out how they motivate themselves and learn this strategy ourselves. It may also be that I can motivate myself when I am playing golf but not when it comes to completing my expenses at the end of the month. By modeling myself I could discover how I motivate myself in the golfing context and then transfer this skill to my expenses - if I want to!!

All of the models and techniques and processes of NLP are based on two fundamental premises:

 Mind And Body Are One System

 In the West we used to believe that mind and body were separate. We are now beginning to rediscover that this is not so. Our Minds and Bodies are inextricably linked and when we change our body - internally or externally - then this will affect the ways in which we think. Try being really ecstatic and happy with your shoulders and head down while breathing shallowly. Alternatively, if we change our thoughts then our bodies are affected. This is being explored most effectively in the field of health where we are discovering more and more that our negative or positive thoughts change our health.

Now some questions which may have occurred to you:

Q.  What sort of problems can an NLP practitioner deal with?  

A.  Any sort of problems can be dealt with whether they be of an emotional, mental, physical nature, just like in EFT.  However having the tools of NLP,  a practitioner can delve much deeper and quicker and address the problems in a wholistic mind-body manner.  It’s like NLP is the tool box full of different tools for different jobs and EFT is one of the tools in the tool kit.  So NLP has a vast range of tools to deal with problems in a sensory based wholistic manner.

NLP gives the practitioner sensory acuity and an ability to step into the client’s mindset and understand the problem at a very deep level, without being caught up in the content.  NLP practitioners have tools to help clients build futures and goals and achieve the best possible results a client can hope for.  EFT is a pattern interrupt, and NLP goes beyond by installing new strategies into the client’s toolbag of coping mechanisms.

Q.  What sorts of problems can be dealt with by someone who knows NLP?

A.   A range of problems such as self esteem/worth issues, eating disorders, anger issues, PTSD and anxieties.

Q.  Is it, by itself, a practical therapy? 

A.  Yes, because there are the different strategies such as fast phobia cure, swish,  parts integration, time line techniques which are applied directly to problems the client may have.

Q.  Can someone who knows NLP be more helpful to a client by virtue of the fact that s/he KNOWS NLP?

A.  Yes, because knowing NLP allows the practitioner to read the client, read the body language, listen for key words which indicate what really is the issue, use questions developed in NLP ...a set of questions named the meta model...which cut thru the crap and get to the real picture, the milton model, taken from Erickson and his techniques of tranceing out clients thru vague questioning and lastly the META Program which gives a clear indication of the hardwired thinking program of clients.  By listening to the words and paying attention to the words, rather than the content of conversation, the practitioner can quickly focus in on the heart of the issues.

Q.  A further question:  If a practitioner is doing therapy with a client, can a knowledge of NLP be helpful even if they are working by telephone?

A.  Absolutely....listening to the tone of voice given and using same tones to match and pace to build rapport, or to use suggestions and embed commands again by using different tones.