What is neurolinguistic programming? Well, for starters, let’s get familiar with it’s shorter and easier-to-pronounce alias: NLP.
Neuro, meaning mind, and linguistic, meaning language, combine to make NLP one of the most powerful techniques to change the way you see yourself and your world.
History of NLP
Richard Bandler, a mathematics major, and John Grinder, a linguistic professor at the University of California, Santa Cruz co-created NLP in the 1970’s.
Initially, they only intended to develop a model and explanation as to why certain individuals were so much more successful than their peers.
Their initial study subjects included three renowned psychotherapists: Virginia Satir, Fritz Perls, and Milton H. Erickson.
In the 1980’s, NLP was viewed as a highly respected advancement in the world of counseling and psychotherapy. That is, however, until research reviews within the community began to discredit the practice, claiming there was no tangible scientific evidence that proved NLP was anything more than an “unproven psychological theory or treatment.”
NLP Today
Even so, now neuro-linguistic programming has become a widespread tool for helping people reshape the way they view everything from simple verbal communications to complex social interactions, and everything in between.
There is an abundance of NLP-related books, workshops, seminars, teachers, and more around the world.
Who Uses NLP?
Since the very foundation of NLP is based on emulating success, entrepreneurs and like-minded ambitious men and women hope to unlock the secret of climbing to the top of their field.
On the other side of the spectrum, every one from students to soccer moms firmly believe that NLP can help them in their day-to-day lives and duties by improving the way they tackle tasks and to-do lists.
Whether you believe whole-heartedly in NLP, or simply think neurolinguistic programming is nothing more than the latest New Age placebo treatment, reading more about this fascinating branch of psychotherapy could prove very interesting.