Neuro‐Linguistic Programme As Practised by an Educational Psychologist

Abstract

Summary The article provides some examples of educational psychologist's practice using the skills and techniques of Neuro Linguistic Programming suggesting this represents a valuable field of study for EPs involved in the business of change. Neuro‐Linguistic Programming (NLP) was introduced in the mid 1970s when Bandler, a mathematician, and Grinder, a linguist, set about studying the therapeutic techniques of some highly reputed practising therapists, particularly Erikson, Satir and Perls. They made a linguistic analysis of the therapists’ questioning and approach to develop a practical and learnable guide to effective therapeutic questioning. They called this the Meta Model (see Structure of Magic I Bandler and Grinder, 1975), and this has many parallels to more established psychological theories emphasising personal meaning such as Personal Construct Psychology (eg Kelly, 1955). Basically, the Meta Model emphasises generalisations, distortions and deletions and demonstrates effective ways to challenge these presuppositions in the client's use of language, and ways of making sense of the world. This, in common with other psychological approaches, is essential to clarifying difficulties both for the client and practitioner, and can have a significant therapeutic effect in itself. From the Meta Model NLP has developed a vastly greater breadth of communication and therapeutic skills to include rapport building at a number of levels, work with representational systems and internal processes, in addition to nonverbal and unconscious communication, and changes in state including trance inductions. NLP is presented as practical and learnable skills, requiring practice, to develop the competence and subtlety in both communication and observation of feedback, to work effectively with clients. In this paper it is hoped to outline briefly a few case studies of work with children when NLP seems to have been particularly effective. Cases are preceded with a brief description of the major elements of NLP used with the client. However, single techniques are not used in isolation. Before developing any specific intervention, problem clarification is necessary (the Meta Model is useful here) and rapport is essential for any effective work, in addition to close observation of non‐verbal behaviours.