What Is NLP? (Neuro Linguistic Programming)

NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming) can be thought of as a type of applied psychology which was originally developed back in the seventies by Richard Bandler and John Grinder.  The words 'neuro linguistic' are taken from the study of the effect of speech patterns on the brain and the word 'programming' is taken from computer programming.  As it's name suggests Neuro Linguistic Programming is making practical use of certain patterns, tools and techniques that use language to program the mind and vice versa.  If you delve further into John Grinder and Richard Bandler's work you will find that there are many variations and spin-offs of NLP that have been devised over the years.

Technically NLP is not a form of psychology in it's own right, rather it is a compiled set of useful techniques taken from various aspects of psychology.  It's a set of useful techniques that have all been compiled into one simple model for the benefit of anyone who decides to learn it and therefore there is no government accredited qualification needed by law (or attainable) in order to become an NLP Practitioner.  However, when NLP was initially released it was turned into somewhat of a pyramid scheme by it's founders who sold it as a kind of life-training course and issued the starting certificates theirselves.  Certified master practitioners were then allowed to start their own training school in order to train and qualify more people and become authorized to hand out their own certificates.  This system turned out to be hugely successful for American guru Tony Robbins.

Although the system was mostly sold as a way of improving life and becoming successful in all that you do, the NLP model also had the benefit of providing therapeutic uses such as giving up smoking, overcoming phobias and dealing with emotional and mental health issues and many NLP pracitioner's set up their own practises in order to become therapists.  Hypnosis is also a large part of NLP though unfortunately in practise NLP can potentially be quite dangerous if in the wrong hands given that it teaches people the abilities needed in order to provoke major changes to the way a subject thinks and emotionally responds to external stimuli without even needing to use hypnosis or suggestion whether direct or indirect.

Neuro Linguistic Programming is not magic and certain claims that some people make are highly exaggerated.  However, NLP definitely holds an infinitely valuable amount of resources that can undoubtedly help you achieve the best out of your life whether in terms of psychology or career or simply just living life.  NLP teaches you awareness of internal representational systems, anchoring, heightened communication, hypnosis and body language aswell as other valuable tools that can be utilized in order to get the most out of your life.