The world we have created is a product of our thinking.
It cannot be changed without changing our thinking.
~Albert Einstein

'Neuro' refers to the mind and how we organise our mental life. 'Linguistic' is about language, how we use it and how it affects us. 'Programming' is about the patterns of behaviour that we run and how we act with purpose.

NLP originated in the early 1970s when Richard Bandler (psychologist) and John Grinder (linguist) began to work together. They developed a process called 'modelling' by which they could observe the behaviour and ideas used by people who were skilled in different ways. They modelled Fritz Perls (the psychologist behind Gestalt therapy), Virginia Satir (founding spirit of family therapy and recognised as an extraordinary therapist) and Milton Erickson (a renowned clinical hypnotherapist). Although these three were the principal models of excellence in therapy, the work of others was also drawn on. A system of skills and techniques that can be used personally and professionally was developed and further development by experts in the field has vastly expanded the original work.

If psychology is about discovering and using a blueprint for the mind then NLP can be considered to be instructions for changing the blueprint. NLP is a method of identifying patterns of behaviour and of excellence and transferring these skills to others. It is useful in business, education, coaching, therapy and health.

NLP has 4 main principles:

1. Building rapport with yourself and others
2. Setting goals or outcomes - knowing what you want
3. Using your senses to collect information about what is happening to you and how others are operating
4. Being flexible and realizing that there are choices about how you behave.

NLP is very practical. Working with a practitioner enables the client to make changes that will improve their life. NLP helps you to construct your experience in a way that leads to achievement of positive outcomes.

NLP can help clients individually or in groups. Here are just a few of the ways that NLP can help:

• Change unwanted behaviour (for example stop smoking, lose weight)
• Alter limiting beliefs in order to be able to achieve the things that you want in life
  
• Improve health and well being
  
• Let go of negative emotions and limiting decisions
  
• Create the future that you want
  
• Overcome phobias
  
• Build confidence
  
• Change your physical and mental state
  
• Model successful performance
  
• Work with grief and loss
  
• Recover from trauma
  
• Overcome depression and anxiety
  
• Manage eating disorders
  
• Make decisions about career choice etc.
  
• Learn how to optimise your learning opportunities
  
• Develop strategies to generate new ways of behaving

NLP has been described as the study of excellence. Consider how this might change your life in all its infinite positive possibilities.

© Maria Doherty, Chrysalis Transformations. All Rights Reserved.

Maria Doherty
Chrysalis Transformations
www.chrysalistransformations.com
maria @ chrysalistransformations.com

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