What is NLP?

What is NLP?

Neuro Linguistic Programming is a set of psychological techniques that  can be used to promote our mental health and wellbeing. It can be used by us with ourselves and with others in educational, coaching, management, and therapeutic roles. NLP was invented in California during the 1970s. If had been invented in the UK today it might have been called something like “Mental Hygiene for All” or “Ways to Run Your Head Even Better”. Here’s a translation:
 
Neuro  The way that each of us filter, organise and act on the information we get from our 5 senses (our neurology) 
Linguistic  This is about the language we use to tell ourselves and others about our experiences. NLP helps us to examine the language we use and how this affects how we think and feel and behave.
Programming  How we develop habits or “programmes” of thoughts and feelings and how these affect our behaviour. It’s also about how to can change these habits and programmes so we can make our lives even more enjoyable and become even more effective.

  • NLP has a preventative focus. It can be used to sort out existing issues and habits and is highly effective in promoting the “mental hygiene” that stop the habits forming in the first place.   
  • It can be a gift that really does keep on giving: Not only will the person learning and using NLP develop new and more resourceful ways of being, they will also be able to pass the knowledge on to the people they have contact with.
  • The techniques are relatively quick and easy to learn and with practice become very effective tools.
  • It is a very gentle way of working with people to enhance their wellbeing and resilience. While guiding a person through many techniques, they get to choose how much or little they want to say about what is happening to them.
  • NLP works with people of all ages and backgrounds.
  • Many of the techniques can be used informally as part of our every-day conversations.
  • It is based on spontaneity and flexibility rather than following a script, so it’s okay to experiment to find your voice with NLP.
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