What is NLP and how does it work?
NLP is considered to be one of the most useful and accessible tools to come from modern psychology and can assist with:
- stress management
- improving feelings of empathy
- improving communication skills
- resolving destructive relationship patterns
The technique was developed in 1972 by John Grinder and Richard Bandler. Fascinated with human excellence, they decided to look at the work of Fritz Perls, the psychotherapist behind gestalt therapy, Virginia Satir, the “mother of family therapy” and Milton Erickson, the first therapist to use hypnosis for medical purposes.
While NLP is a vast and complex practice, the fundamental ideas behind it can be broken down into three parts, subjectivity, maps and language.
Neuro-linguistic programming, or NLP, harnesses the power of language to break down the mental barriers we unknowingly create for ourselves. When ‘following your dreams’ and reaching your full potential can seem impossible, a qualified practitioner can use this technique to help you realise that the only thing holding you back in life, is yourself.
“Neuro” meaning nerve, refers to the way we gather information from the outside world, using our five senses. “Linguistic” is the study of language, referring to the way we make sense of said information by organising it into the structure of language. Finally, “programming” is our way of controlling something. This refers to how we interpret the world and how we control our daily actions, choices, and behaviours.
NLP maps
NLP maps (also known as models) are the next component behind the technique. The idea is that each of us has a unique map marking out the journey of our lives.
NLP practitioners use the idea of a map to illustrate how we can only view our own representations of the world, not the world itself. Think of it as though we are all wearing goggles that only show certain parts of the world. Even if two people are standing side by side, witnessing the same event, both will come out with a different experience. Whether we are aware of it or not, every event in our lives impacts our future in some way. This may be our beliefs, behaviours, reactions or the decisions we make, but each one will make a mark on our future.
This understanding is fundamental to NLP. A practitioner will use NLP to understand how and why clients back themselves into a corner or “get stuck in a rut”. Some may feel restricted, as though they lack the skill or worth to reach their goals. While this may not be their choice, it may be a result of something that happened in the past. A harsh rejection, a personal loss or perhaps public embarrassment may have left a mark on their map, preventing them from pushing forward in the future.
Language and NLP
The final theory behind NLP coaching is that it is down to the person to push the boundaries of our maps by ‘reprogramming our internal control systems’. Language gives us the ability to formulate, express and communicate our thoughts. It structures our world and the meaning and associations of words not only to describe but shape the world around us.
By altering their use of language, a person can expand the limits of their maps and take the first steps to start the changes they want to make. For example, think of the word ‘failure’ – what does this mean to you?
To some, the word may represent disappointment, sadness and trigger the sinking sensation in the stomach. These associations may alter how they will react to a failure – or risk of failure – in the future. However, others may associate the word with new beginnings, a fresh start and another life experience.
By altering the way different words and associations shape a person’s network of vocabularies, they can begin to change the way they think and their perception of the world.