Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP)
NLP is defined as the art and science of excellence, and was derived from modelling how top people in a variety of different fields obtained their outstanding results. Interesting words but what does that mean in terms of healing and psychotherapy. We interpret the world we live in through the meanings we make of old experiences we had growing up. That means we filter our present experiences through assumptions we made in the past. As we continue to have the same assumptions we continue with the same behaviours which produce the same results. Often the results we produce are not what we want but we feel powerless to change them.
NLP unravels the internal language we use to arrive at the assumptions we made and challenges their authenticity. Poor generalised assumptions are usually based on data that is no longer relevant. Behaviours that were useful when we were babies or young children are simply outdated now we are adults. Changing the internal choices or the sequences of unconscious internal decision making actually changes the outcomes, sometimes without involving the conscious mind. From this perspective NLP is orientated toward seeking a solution to the present problem without ever needing to understand why the problem is occurring. NLP assumes that the mind has a programme that sets the behaviour in motion, and that altering that programme leads to a different outcome. Traditional psychotherapy is usually oriented to discovering the underlying causes. It then assumes that the recognition of the cause will alter the ensuing behaviour.
All of the therapeutic techniques used are result directed. Successful therapeutic change is measured behaviourally, in practice, in the environment that the person lives in. Thus, sometimes for full recovery interventions are necessary within the whole family dynamics.