What is NLP?

NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming) is a form of applied psychology founded by Richard Bandler and John Grinder back in the seventies and is a set scheme consisting of various psychological patterns based primarily on modelling.  NLP is described as 'the study of the structure of subjective experience' and contains techniques that can be used as resources for therapy, personal change, behavioural change, personal success, professional success, business management training, counseling, phobia cure, relieving depression, giving up smoking and many more things.  NLP is basically just a set of psychologica tools and techniques all compiled into one programme for your convenience.  However, claims of how fast results can be achieved and the unlimited efficacy of these techniques is usually overly exaggerated.

If you have ever looked into hypnosis then you will have probably heard of NLP.  Hypnosis is actually a large part of NLP though technically hypnosis is not what it seems.  It's basically just communication, both conscious and unconscious (body language, unaware verbal clues, etc).  Learning NLP is probably the best way of learning about hypnosis.  In addition NLP also focuses on areas such as representational systems (how we represent the world to ourselves internally), submodalities (a break-down of these representations), rapport (building up trust and responsiveness in other people), anchoring (creating a trigger in someone), strategies (an occurence in the brain that influences a result), reframing (as in frame of mind), ecology and congruency (making sure the change is effective and resourceful) and parts integration (similar to a computer software program that controls how we behave and can installed or uninstalled).