Most of us here in the UK are familiar with the TV entertainers Paul McKenna and Derren Brown who use a mixture of Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) and hypnosis to achieve their desired results – and very successfully too.
They’re very amusing and, at times, fascinating to watch – which of course makes great viewing. But that’s not what the use of NLP in Life Coaching is about. For a start there won’t be any audience watching how you progress – or even stumble – along the way. But I will be there to help guide you.
First though, I’d imagine there are lots of questions you want to know the answers to when it comes to NLP, such as:

What exactly is NLP?

A good analogy to understanding NLP is to view it as a set of tools to help fix things. In this case the tools are psychology, linguistics, self-hypnosis and behaviourism. The item you’re planning to fix is your life or, in the case of business coaching, your company (or at least one or two certain aspects of it). You’ll do this by using the tools to break down the mental barriers that exist. These are beliefs that have built up over the years and are often compounded by a reluctance to break out of your comfort zone. In a company sense it could be an ethos that needs altered.

What does it involve me doing?

NLP involves a lot of input from the individual or organisation in order to work – indeed it is commonly thought of as an ‘active’ therapy (there’s no lying back in the psychiatrists chair recounting past events until it’s time to leave for instance).
No, instead you will be encouraged to look at your own thought processes (positive and negative) and outline all your aims and fears. It will also mean taking into account your reactions to events and individuals and analysing whether or not they (your reactions) are appropriate.

And will the Life Coach be using NLP too?

You bet. NLP, because of its reliance on non-verbal behaviour, is an excellent method of identifying a client’s potential problem areas and attitudes towards the world.
Who ‘invented’ NLP
Psychologist Richard Bandler and linguist John Grinder are said to have come up with the idea of combining speech, behaviour and thought as a methodology for altering behaviour in a therapy sense. It was later picked up by others who combined it with their own specialist fields.

Ok, so no ‘going under’ then?

No, but you will be doing exercises (not physical ones) they’re more of a mental variety and believe me, it’s just as fascinating – if not more so – to view your own internal map of the world and how you relate to it, than watching an hour or two of Paul McKenna and Derren Brown doing their stuff. And your own ‘programme’ will be of far more value in the long run.
For more information on what life coaching can do for you call for an informal Merle for an informal chat tel: +44 7540 839918.