What is Neuro-linguistic programming?
One of the aims of NLP is to help you do whatever you already do reasonably well even better. It may not suit all tastes but it's worth finding out about because it could be for you. Professional courses can be quite expensive and require time commitment. You'll find lots of information about NLP on the links to the right of this page.
Becoming skilled in NLP will enable you to:
- Improve things you already do reasonably well
- Acquire skills and attitudes you would like but do not currently possess
- Think more clearly about problems
- Manage your thoughts/moods/behaviour more effectively
- Communicate with others more effectively
Origins of NLP
Bandler and Grinder, in the 1970s developed neurolinguistic programming as an extraordinarily effective and rapid form of psychological therapy, capable of addressing the full range of problems which psychologists are likely to encounter, such as phobias, depression, habit disorders, anxieties, and psychosomatic disorders.
From a psychological perspective, NLP is concerned with the relationship between successful patterns of behaviour and the subjective experiences (esp. patterns of thought) underlying them. It utilises a system of alternative therapy based on this which seeks to educate people in self-awareness and effective communication, and to change their patterns of mental and emotional behaviour.
Using Neuro-linguistic Programming
Very little significant research has been done supporting NLP, and as such it continues to make no impact on mainstream academic psychology, and only limited impact on mainstream psychotherapy and counselling. The main criticisms of NLP are that: it is not based on the scientific method, there is little research to support it's claims, and that a significant amount of research suggests the central claims are unjustified.
It does however, have influence among some private psychotherapists and hypnotherapists, who claim to be trained in NLP and to ‘use NLP’ in their work. It has also had an enormous influence in management training, life coaching, and the self-help industry.
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