NLP
Neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) is a process developed from the concepts of Virgina Satir, Gregory Bateson, Milton Erickson and Fritz Perls. It explores the relationship between our self-talk, interactions with others and the effect on the body and behaviour.
How NLP differs from counselling
Counsellors guide people to explore their own thoughts and feelings in relation to a specific problem in order to get more clarity. Counsellors do not give advice or guide a client to take a particular course of action. On the other hand, NLP sessions are more structured and less free flowing as NLP frequently follows a specific set of interventions/protocols/strategies to help people make positive changes faster. NLP is used to change addictions, habits, behaviours, improve emotional states and enhance performance in a more directive way than counselling. Tony Robbins first started his career as an NLP training and frequently uses NLP type techniques. We often create beliefs based on cognitive distortions such as personalisation, generalisation, black and white thinking, catastrophizing etc and NLP aims to eradicate erroneous unhelpful belief patterns to help you achieve your goals.
What does NLP differ from hypnotherapy?
Hypnotherapy works directly with the unconscious mind whereas NLP actively engages the conscious mind. Hypnotherapy should never be confused with stage hypnosis. Stage hypnosis is a form of entertainment for amusement whereas hypnotherapy is the use of hypnosis for therapeutic benefit. While stage hypnosis can demonstrate the powerful potential of the human mind, it is often not used to elicit wanted changes in the individual hypnotised. Hypnotherapy is a highly successful form of brief-therapy as often gets results when other treatments have failed. Hypnotherapy gets results in a much shorter time frame than counselling or NLP alone.