About - Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP)

Neuro-Linguistic Psychology and Communication

Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) is an interpersonal communication model, based on the subjective study of language, communication and personal change. It can be seen as a wide range of interpersonal communication and psychological techniques that when applied, can create positive change on many levels.

The word ‘neuro’ refers to cognitive aspects of the brain/ mind; the word ‘linguistic’ refers to communication; and the word ‘programming’ refers to the ability to program or re-program aspects of behaviour, perception, and communication of either ones self, other people, or life situations.

NLP was originally a concept co-created by Richard Bandler and linguist John Grinder in the 1970s. Their initial focus was to study and model three successful psychotherapists, Fritz Perls (Gestalt Therapy), Virginia Satir (Family Systems Therapy), and Milton H. Erickson (Clinical Hypnosis), with the aim of discovering the successful patterns of behaviour and communication, which so distinguished these three therapists apart from their peers. This introduced the two models in NLP, the Meta Model (based on communication patterns of Fritz Perls and Virginia Satir) and the Milton Model (based on the communication patterns of Milton H. Erickson). These two main models, together with many other tools, techniques and strategies made up the original NLP set.

Over time, the field of NLP has continued to develop and grow in different directions, being influenced and fine-tuned by many experienced practitioners and therapists, who collectively, are responsible for what NLP has become today. The term NLP can now be seen as an umbrella to a vast range of components, tools and models that have the ability to influence change, both in ones self and others. The term NLP is now also used by some therapists as Neuro-Linguistic Psychology, or Neuro-Linguistic Psychotherapy, and has evolved greatly from its original concept.

NLP can also be understood more simply as a study of human behaviour and communication. Some of the components of NLP are naturalistic and are frequently used by people on an unconscious level during everyday life. To study Neuro Linguistic Psychology is to transform that unconscious use of communication into a more conscious use and application. When one studies and integrates the many tools of NLP into their lifestyle, they become more conscious of the communication process, including their own communication and the communication of others, allowing them to have more influence with accurate communication and more easily avoid any distortions or misunderstandings.

The models and techniques of NLP have been used as an alternative approach to psychotherapy, as well as being used widely in business communication, management training, teaching, executive coaching and motivational seminars. Today, the predominant patterns of NLP, the application of those patterns, and many variants of NLP are found in a variety of seminars, workshops, books and audio programs.

The wide range of techniques and strategies used in NLP, equally have a wide range of applications. Some such applications are: