Neuro Linguistic Programming is the study of how each individual makes sense of his/her world uniquely through different personality patterns and sensory filters. It is used to describe the fundamental dynamic between our mind, body, emotions and behaviour.

Why the name?

Neuro – Our neurological system not only regulates how our bodies function, it also defines how our sensory systems shape our perceptions of the world and our responses to it.

Linguistic – How we use language to order our thoughts, and communicate.

Programming – This relates to our tendency to habituate behaviour. We all have many ‘programmes’ that are used systematically by our unconscious to run much of our behaviour.

Our memories, beliefs, values, favoured sensory system and personality traits have formed our unique model of the world. We use our internal model to make sense of the world around us. If we think our model is the same as everyone else's, it will have a profound effect on our thoughts and behaviours, and our relationships with others.

By understanding the structure of our model we can identify negative thought patterns that inhibit us (and change them); by understanding the structure of someone else’s model we can assist them in doing the same thing; or use it to improve our relationship with them, whether in a business or personal context.

NLP was developed in the ‘70’s by Richard Bandler and John Grinder. It is the end product of a curiosity that began by asking “How do people do that?”

Bandler and Grinder started by looking closely at how people who were excellent in their fields achieved the results they did. They noticed certain patterns of human sameness and difference, which could be used by others to improve individual performance in many areas.

As a result of this initial curiosity a large number of techniques have been developed which can be used by people to improve their lives, and the lives of people around them.

Think about this:

• Doing something well, consistently, is not an accident, it is a process
• Doing something badly, consistently, is not an accident, it is a process

NLP provides the tools to understand these processes and develop the individual’s ability to adapt whatever they do that does not bring them the results they want, into processes that do.

So how can it help?

It has been used to improve performance in sport; academic performance; sales; therapy, and self-development. It has the potential to improve any situation where communication is a factor, whether between you and someone else, or just with yourself.

Using NLP in conjunction with cognitive hypnotherapy has many benefits.

The relationship between therapist and client is crucial in whether you can help or not. Not only is it essential for the therapist to understand and communicate clearly with the client, but also helping them to understand how they communicate with themselves and others is also invaluable in affecting change.

It is a great tool, not only for enabling us to become more aware of the thoughts that direct our actions, but also to become attuned to the ways others seek to influence us.

For health, if you accept the premise that the mind and the body communicate with one another, then the quality of the thoughts you have must impact on the stress levels within your body. If you are thinking negatively, or view the world through a filter of limiting beliefs, then the body’s response to this places an unsustainable burden on the immune system, which can ultimately lead to illness and susceptibility to disease. In that respect, your thoughts create the conditions necessary for your ill-health. Releasing these negative thought patterns and replacing them with positive ones, creates the conditions necessary to re-build your health. This is not a replacement for conventional medicine, it is complementary to it.