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Outcomes and Competencies for Practitioners of NLP

Recommended Syllabus for Practitioner of Neuro-Linguistic Programming courses

At Inspiritive, we create high-quality NLP certification training. Anyone certified by us as a Practitioner of Neuro-Linguistic Programming is more than capable of undertaking advanced training at the level of Part 2 of the Graduate Certificate in Neuro-Linguistic Programming or Practitioner of Ericksonian Hypnosis.

Our recommendations for obtaining a Practitioners Certificate in Neuro-Linguistic Programming. Certificate Course participants are required to show competency as below.

If you have already attended a practitioner of NLP training, have you had presentations, live demonstrations, and supervised exercises in the following?

Outcomes and Competencies at the NLP Practitioner level

Rapport

Prerequisites: none

Learning outcomes:

  •  to be able to establish and maintain rapport with one or more other people,
  • to be able to attract and hold someone’s attention,
  • to be able to elicit willing co-operation,
  • to make a distinction between the above (rapport) and liking

Competency:

  • matching, mirroring, cross-pacing, pacing and leading, using verbal and non-verbal behaviour,
  • eliciting and keeping another person’s attention

Perceptual Positions

Prerequisites: rapport

Learning outcomes:

  • to be able to demonstrate and use first, third and second positions in varied contexts,
  • to be able to meta comment about any experience from a meta position,
  • to be able to guide another person through the process,
  • to understand the benefit of using third position between first and second positions at all times,
  • to be able to demonstrate and use additional meta positions with first, third and second position to establish a cleanly detached third position and a clean first position,
  • to be aware of changes in others’ demeanour

Competency:

  • enter and leave first, third and second positions and describe the differences between them,
  • describe and demonstrate the function of multiple perceptual positions,
  • describe the purpose of the order ‘first to third to second to third to first’,
  • demonstrate guiding another person through the process of establishing and using cleanly differentiated perceptual positions,
  • adopt a meta position cleanly and comment from it on the experience or interaction just left

NLP Representational Systems

Prerequisites: rapport, perceptual positions

Learning outcomes:

  • to be aware that all internal processing (thinking, remembering, imagining, emoting) uses sequences of representations of our senses, that is internal pictures, sounds, feelings (sensation, proprioception), tastes and smells,
  • to be aware that representations in different systems may be used sequentially, simultaneously and in synaesthesia,
  • to be aware that a prefered representational system is not an identifying category and has a useful life of 30 seconds,
  • to be aware that different sequences of representations suit different classes of material,
  • to know the difference between a single representational system, two or more in simultaneous use and two or more in synaesthesia
  • to be aware that all systems are in use constantly but conscious awareness is limited to the ones being represented identifiably in the moment,
  • to be aware that a lead system is not an identifying category and is information about the way someone is starting to think on this occasion or about the particular topic,
  • to be aware that different people use different sequences of representational systems to think about any given topic,
  • to begin to appreciate that everyone has their own model of the world and makes their own meaning of events and ideas
  • to be aware that representations of the world are not the world; they are mental pictures, sounds and feelings
  • to be aware of perceptual filters (those beliefs, expectations, and presuppositions we hold that influence the way we represent our experience) about the world and ourselves
  • to be aware of changes in others’ demeanour

Competency:

  • ask others how they are representing their internal processes,
  • demonstrate understanding of the transient nature of lead and preferred representational systems,
  • demonstrate understanding that representational systems are not identifying categories or fixed characteristics of people,
  • demonstrate understanding that all internal processes are sequences of representations,
  • demonstrate understanding that a sequence can include single representations, simultaneous representations and synaesthesia,
  • demonstrate understanding that all systems are in use constantly but those which are identifiable in the moment are available consciously,
  • demonstrate understanding that our internal experience is subject to perceptual filters as well as sensory representations

Sensory specific language – verbal predicates

Prerequisites: rapport, perceptual positions, representational systems

Learning outcomes:

  • to be able to hear, recognise and use sensory based predicates,
  • to be able to respond in the same order and sequence as another person,
  • to be able to map across from one sense to another using predicates,
  • to be able to include all main senses in conversation,
  • to be able to leave all sensory predicates out in favour of non-sensory based terms,
  • to be able to recognise when someone else is not responding due to use of predicates outside their current thinking

Competency:

  • demonstrate recognition and use of sensory based predicates in all senses,
  • demonstrate matching sequences of predicates,
  • demonstrate mapping across senses verbally,
  • demonstrate use of non-sensory specific words

Eye-accessing cues

Prerequisites: rapport, perceptual positions, representational systems, predicates

Learning outcomes:

  • to be able to elicit and read another person’s eye-accessing cues,
  • to link eye-accessing cues back to representation systems and predicates,
  • to be able to use others’ eye-accessing cues to prompt further information gathering,
  • to be aware that the majority of people have a similar eye-accessing pattern, some have the pattern reversed and others have one or two representational systems reversed,
  • to be aware that some people with split patterns could benefit from consistency within their own direction if they want it,
  • to observe and listen to the subject for feedback and ensure their well being
  • to be able to observe changes in others’ demeanour

Competency:

  • demonstrate eliciting others’ eye-accessing cues using sensory specific questions,
  • demonstrate eliciting others’ eye-accessing cues in conversation,
  • respond to another’s spontaneous eye-accessing cues using appropriately sequenced sensory based predicates,
  • guiding subjects’ eyes to access specific representational systems through gestures and / or words,
  • recognising the need for ecology in leading eye-accessing

Circle of excellence

Prerequisites: rapport, perceptual positions, rep systems, predicates, eye-accessing cues

Learning outcomes:

  • to be able to elicit and maintain a change in own psycho-physiological state,
  • to be able to recognise and choose appropriate components for a resource state,
  • to be able to construct a context specific resource state to fit a particular function using resources from personal history, memory and imagination,
  • to take another person through the above processes, eliciting that person’s choice of resources,
  • to have live experience of intentional changes in state, emotion and resourcefulness,
  • to discover that states and emotional responses can be changed at will,
  • to have live exposure to evidence that people have different models of the world and different sequences of representation,
  • to recognise the importance of ecology and clients’ choice,
  • to be able to future pace resources into appropriate future contexts,
  • to be able to observe changes in others’ demeanour

Competency:

  • the ability to change own state,
  • the ability to construct resource states to fit general and specific situations,
  • the ability to lead another through these processes,
  • the ability to discuss the learning outcomes,
  • the ability to check ecology,
  • future pacing the work done

Sensory acuity and calibration

Prerequisites: rapport, perceptual positions, representational systems, predicates, eye-accessing cues

Learning outcomes:

  • to be able to observe and remember others’ present behaviour without attributing meaning to it,
  • to be able to listen to others’ present behaviour without attributing meaning to it,
  • to compare others’ present behaviour with their own past examples and identify similarities and differences,
  • to be aware of the distinctions between observation, calibration and interpretation,
  • to be able to calibrate an individual’s state by comparison between their present behaviour (verbal and non-verbal) and similar behaviour previously observed in the same individual for which their meaning has already been established,
  • to be aware that meaning attributed to someone else’s behaviour remains speculation until verified by that person,
  • to be able to calibrate state changes in others by touch,
  • to be able to calibrate state changes in others by hearing (changes in voice quality),
  • to be able to offer sensory based descriptions of observations in all senses

Competency:

  • observe small changes in state,
  • hear small changes in state,
  • feel small changes in state,
  • compare present state with previous examples in same person,
  • describe observation, calibration and interpretation,
  • use sensory based description without interpretation

Anchoring

Prerequisites: rapport, perceptual positions, representational systems, predicates, eye-accessing cues, sensory acuity

Learning outcomes:

  • to be able to elicit one or more states in others,
  • to be able to anchor each desired state visually, auditorily or by touch,
  • to be able to re-elicit each desired state by firing its anchor,
  • to be able to calibrate the changing intensity of an elicited state,
  • to be aware of the need to set the anchor as the state increases in intensity,
  • to be aware of the need to cease the anchor before the state peaks,
  • to be able to collapse anchors, chain anchors, stack anchors, slide anchors,
  • to be aware that anchoring is an example of first order change,
  • to be aware that anchoring can prompt second order change to occur,
  • to be aware of the subjectÐs ecology and choice,
  • to be aware that anchoring occurs naturally in daily life

Competencies:

  • elicit subject’s outcome for the exercise,
  • elicit particular states, one at a time,
  • anchor each state,
  • use visual, auditory and kinaesthetic anchors,
  • set anchors,
  • fire anchors,
  • collapse anchors,
  • chain anchors,
  • stack anchors,
  • observe state changes,
  • describe state changes in sensory based terms,
  • use sliding anchors

Well-formed outcome

Prerequisites: rapport, perceptual positions, representational systems, predicates, eye-accessing cues, sensory acuity, anchoring

Learning outcomes:

  • to know and be able to apply the well-formedness conditions for outcomes to participants’ own outcomes,
  • to be able to elicit and describe an outcome with reference to well-formedness conditions for outcomes,
  • to be able to create nested well-formed outcomes,
  • to be able to elicit a well-formed outcome from another person,
  • to be able to use the Grinder Outcome, Intention and Consequence model on well-formed outcomes and ill-formed outcomes,
  • to have an experience of using different logical levels to increase understanding and integration

Competency:

  • elicit an outcome in positive terms,
  • take the outcome through well-formedness conditions,
  • elicit the intent of the outcome,
  • take the intent through well-formedness conditions,
  • elicit a sub-outcome,
  • take a sub-outcome through well formedness conditions,
  • take a well formed outcome through the Grinder Outcome, Intention and Consequences model,
  • take an ill formed outcome through the Grinder Outcome, Intention and Consequences model to find an alternative outcome

The meta model of language – overview

Prerequisites: rapport, perceptual positions, representational systems, predicates, eye-accessing cues

Learning outcomes:

  • understanding the distinctions between primary experience, deep structure representation and surface structure representation from transformational grammar,
  • to be aware that people’s language patterns contain information about their thinking processes, beliefs and ideas,
  • to be aware of the distinctions between semantic ill formedness (distortion), limits to the speaker’s model (generalisations) and information gathering (deletions),
  • to be aware of the most useful order in which to challenge meta model violations (distortions first, generalisations next and deletions last),
  • to be aware that distortions include only presuppositions, mind reading, cause effects and complex equivalents,
  • to be aware that generalisations include only modal operators of possibility and necessity, universal quantifiers, and lost performativesto be aware that deletions include only nominalisations, unspecified verbs, lack of referential indices, comparative and simple deletions,
  • to be aware that additional categories are included in some circles but these are not additional language patterns and do not belong in the meta model,
  • to be able to recognise and challenge distortions in one’s own and others’ language,
  • to be able to recognise and challenge generalisations in one’s own and others’ language,
  • to be able to recognise and challenge deletions in one’s own and others’ language,
  • to be aware of the extra need for rapport in maintaining the relationship with others when using the meta model,
  • to understand that the meta model can be used sparingly, based on a need to know for optimal benefit,
  • to understand that the meta model can be used to elicit high quality, accurate information, to teach people to think more effectively and to assist people become aware of unconscious parts of their models of the world to provide another demonstration of the uniqueness of individuals’ models of the world,
  • to be aware that it is more useful to be able to respond to meta model violations than to be able to name them,
  • to be aware of the potentially confrontational quality of the meta model and treat it with care

Competency:

  • to be extra careful to maintain rapport when using the meta model,
  • to hear or read and challenge distortions in others’ language,
  • to hear or read and challenge generalisations in others’ language,
  • to hear or read and challenge deletions in others’ language,
  • to hear or read and challenge the above in own language,
  • to demonstrate awareness of the need to know principle,
  • to know when not to challenge meta model violations,
  • to demonstrate the effective order of challenge for most circumstances

Six step reframe

Prerequisites: rapport, perceptual positions, representational systems, predicates, eye-accessing cues, 

Learning outcomes:

  • to be able to distinguish between behaviour and intention,
  • to have an experience of working with different logical levels,
  • to have an experience of working with conscious and unconscious processes,
  • to have an experience of working with the metaphor of individual, communicating parts of a person,
  • to have an introduction to second order change,
  • to be aware of the story of John Grinder’s developing this process,
  • to be aware that this process is not used in some circles as they consider it has been superseded and that their reasoning is faulty,
  • to be able to elicit and use three specific and separate states in the subject,
  • to be able to change behaviour while holding the intention constant,
  • to be able to disseminate resources within the system of a person,
  • to be able to discuss and incorporate objections to any part of the process,
  • to be able to use the process on oneself and future pace it,
  • to be able to guide another person through the process and future pace it

Competency:

  • demonstrate the spatial six step reframe with self,
  • demonstrate the spatial six step reframe with another person,
  • demonstrate the six step reframe process in your own words with another person,
  • describe the difference between behaviour and intention,
  • describe the importance of the ecology check and future pace,
  • describe the use and incorporation of objections by any part of the subject

Negotiation between two parts in conflict

Prerequisites: session 1, well-formed outcome, meta model

Learning outcomes:

  • to be able to elicit responses from each of two parts of the subject using the metaphor of parts with distinct ideas and responses,
  • to be able to elicit outcomes, intents and purposes from each part,
  • to be able to elicit a dovetailed outcome for the parts,
  • to be able to elicit experience of each other’s beliefs and values for each part,
  • to be able to negotiate agreement and voluntary integration between parts,
  • to be able to check for ecology and elicit voluntary integration with the subject,
  • to be able to gather information and incorporate any objections

Competency:

  • demonstrate the process of negotiating between two parts in conflict with another person,
  • describe the benefits of taking each part’s outcome to a high enough logical level for the intentions to become compatible,
  • demonstrate or describe gathering information from any objecting part and incorporating that information and or part into the process,
  • future pace

Negotiation between more than two parts in conflict

Prerequisites: rapport, perceptual positions, representational systems, predicates, eye-accessing cues, well-formed outcome, meta model,

Learning outcomes:

  • to be able to communicate with more than two parts of a person,
  • to be able to negotiate permission to work with two parts at a time as above,
  • to be able to establish an order and sequence which suits all parts and the subject,
  • to be able to establish a dovetailed outcome working with two parts at a time,
  • to be able to negotiate appropriate integration between consenting parts with a dovetailed outcome

Competency:

  • demonstrate the process of negotiating between more than two parts in conflict with another person,
  • describe the benefits of working with two consenting parts at a time,
  • demonstrate or describe gathering information from any objecting part and incorporating that information and or part into the process,
  • future pace

Content reframing

Prerequisites: rapport, perceptual positions, representational systems, predicates, eye-accessing cues, well-formed outcome, meta model

Learning outcomes:

  • to be aware of the distinction between context and meaning reframing,
  • to be aware that any behaviour would work in an appropriate context,
  • to be aware that people do the best they can with the resources they have available to them in that situation,
  • to be aware that any meaning attributed to a comment or action can be reframed to offer a more or less useful one,
  • to be aware that reframing can be used therapeutically or destructively, to provide credibility,
  • to be aware that reframing is attributing a different meaning to someone’s words or actions, or placing someone’s words or actions in a different context so that they become either more or less appropriate,
  • to be aware that reframing was first described by Bandler and Grinder but has now been adopted as a term in psychology and related areas

Competency:

  • deliver a series of meaning reframes when presented with a complex equivalent until one or more reframes fit the subject’s situation,
  • deliver a series of context reframes in response to a comparative deletion until one or more reframes fit the subject’s situation

Stalking to Excellence

Prerequisites: rapport, perceptual positions, representational systems, predicates, eye-accessing cues, well-formed outcome, meta model, reframing

Learning outcomes:

  • to put skills together for an outcome,
  • to elicit and anchor states,
  • to use different locations for different states,
  • to gather information,
  • to experience emergent learning,
  • to use second order change,
  • to increase calibration and sensory acuity,
  • learn and use the process,
  • to extend resources to additional states and contexts,
  • to discover that a positive intent underlies any state or behaviour,
  • to experience people doing the best they can with the resources they have at the time and in the context

Competency:

  • to guide another person through the process,
  • to use the process oneself,
  • to demonstrate keeping another person resourceful,
  • to demonstrate staying resourceful oneself,
  • to effect a piece of lasting change with another person,
  • to effect a piece of lasting change with oneself,
  • to demonstrate gathering information,
  • to demonstrate using prerequisite competencies in response to the situation,
  • to demonstrate recognition of resource and non-resource states,
  • to elicit and anchor resource states

Submodalities

Prerequisites: rapport, perceptual positions, representational systems, predicates, eye-accessing cues, well-formed outcome, meta model, reframing

Learning outcomes:

  • to discover that subcategories exist within each representational system,
  • to discover that experience is coded in submodalities,
  • to discover that the meaning, intensity, desirability, credibility and memorability of an experience can be altered by changing submodality distinctions,
  • to be aware that different people use different submodality distinctions to make a given change in the quality of their experience,
  • to discover that some people believe they have limited or no access to one or more representational systems,
  • to discover that training can enhance people’s access to their internal representations,
  • to experience changing beliefs with submodalities,
  • to experience the need for ecology and consequence thinking when changing beliefs or doing other deep change work,
  • to experience tracking another’s experiences and gathering detailed process information,
  • to discover that pattern (in this case submodalities) has a lasting impact on subjective experience,
  • to discover that some submodalities drive others to alter with them and some submodalities only shift alone,
  • to discover that experiences can be rendered more resourceful through comparing and contrasting submodalities,
  • to discover additional combinations to add to one’s own repertoire through exposure to others’ descriptions of their submodality distinctions,
  • to reinforce the idea of different models of the world by exposure to others’ descriptions of their subjective experience

Competency:

  • to demonstrate eliciting submodalities from others,
  • to demonstrating eliciting driver submodalities from others,
  • to demonstrate using submodalities to effect change with ecology,
  • to demonstrate changing a belief with ecology using submodalities,
  • to demonstrate comparing and contrasting submodalities of a present state, a desired state and an interim state

Attention training

Prerequisites: rapport, perceptual positions, representational systems, predicates, eye-accessing cues, well-formed outcome, meta model, reframing, submodalities

Learning outcomes:

  • ability to track one’s attention,
  • ability to shift one’s attention by choice,
  • ability to split one’s attention between two or more tasks,
  • ability to mark one’s place and return to it after interruptions,
  • ability to set and use life lines,
  • ability to elicit and use strong resource states with life lines,
  • ability to model another person implicitly by shadowing them,
  • ability to model oneself,
  • ability to detect patterns of organisation in others and oneself,
  • ability to use the unconscious mind as a source of information / inspiration,
  • experience of the conscious / unconscious interface,
  • direct experience of unconscious processing,
  • ability to incorporate personal ecology into all these activities

Competency:

  • demonstrate shifting attention between internal / external, different rep systems, different elements of one’s context, conscious / unconscious processing,
  • demonstrate marking one’s place in an activity and returning to it after a diversion,
  • demonstrate modelling another person implicitly with second position,
  • demonstrate setting and using lifelines oneself,
  • demonstrate guiding another person in setting and using life lines,
  • demonstrate familiarity with three options in life lines (time, task and context),
  • demonstrate finding a source of information via unconscious processing

Fast Phobia Process

Prerequisites: rapport, perceptual positions, representational systems, predicates, eye-accessing cues, well-formed outcome, meta model, reframing, submodalities, attention training

Learning outcomes:

  • to understand the properties of double dissociation and split attention,
  • to understand the organisation of a simple phobia,
  • to understand when to use and when not to use this process,
  • to be aware of the patterns and sequence of the fast phobia process,
  • to be able to use the process with another person,
  • to have an experience of the process,
  • to be aware that the patterns are essential and to use them in one’s own words,
  • to be aware of the importance of anchoring a strong resource state for the subject at the start of the process,
  • to be aware of the importance of keeping the subject dissociated until the end of the process

Competency:

  • demonstrate the fast phobia process on a simple phobia with another person,
  • describe suitable situations and states for using the process,
  • distinguish between suitable and unsuitable material for using the process,
  • describe what makes complex and systemic phobias require additional work

Personal Editing

Learning outcomes:

  • to understand that changing state allows access to different resources,
  • to understand that changing state can be elicited through changing physiology,
  • to understand that a strong and steady resource state can change our responses to people, events and contexts,
  • to acquire multiple means of eliciting resource states to facilitate change in oneself and others,
  • to gain an appreciation of state dependent learning,
  • to gain an appreciation of targeted generalisation of resources across states,
  • to be aware that personal editing occurs naturally in daily life

Competency:

  • demonstrate personal editing with a strong, anchored resource state and repeated short exposure to representations of the choice point,
  • demonstrate personal editing by noting a choice point and then shifting one’s attention to movement,
  • describe instances of naturally occurring personal editing

The Milton Model

Prerequisites: rapport, perceptual positions, representational systems, predicates, eye-accessing cues, well-formed outcome, meta model, reframing, submodalities, attention training

Learning outcomes:

  • to be aware that the milton model makes deliberate use of meta model violations,
  • to be aware that the milton model makes deliberate use of multiple time frames,
  • to become aware of and recognise embedded questions, commands and suggestions,
  • to be aware that the intent is to keep one’s words sufficiently general to allow the subject (individual or group) to make their own representations of the matter under discussion,
  • to be aware of when milton model language is used deliberately and when to use meta model challenges,
  • to be aware that milton model language is useful for making indirect comments and suggestions
  • to acquire facility in using milton model language knowingly,
  • to become aware that trance can be elicited in anyone provided it is tailored to their own thinking processes

Competency:

  • demonstrate use of the milton model to elicit a given class of experience while allowing the subject to represent their own content,
  • demonstrate the use of embedded questions, embedded commands and embedded suggestions

Transderivational search and Change Personal History

Prerequisites: rapport, perceptual positions, representational systems, predicates, eye accessing cues, well formed outcome, meta model, reframing, submodalities, attention training, milton model

Learning outcomes:

  • to become aware of internal sensations as signals to indicate a state,
  • to be able to use internal signals to track back to earlier examples of a state,
  • to be able to elicit the imprint experience giving rise to the sensation,
  • to be able to change state and access resources for the subject of the imprint experience,
  • to be able to bring resources to the subject in the imprint experience,
  • to be aware of possible consequences and ecology in bringing resources to the subject of the imprint experience,
  • to have an experience of regression and time distortion,
  • to experience guiding someone else in this process

Competency:

  • demonstrate a transderivational search using a kinaesthetic signal and anchors,
  • use a transderivational search to find an imprint experience,
  • observe the imprint experience from 3rd position,
  • access suitable resources for the younger subject in the imprint experience,
  • demonstrate bringing resources to the subject in the imprint experience,
  • describe the difference in the experience of the imprint situation with resources,
  • demonstrate awareness of consequences and ecology when doing second order change work,
  • demonstrate bringing the changes to the present in first position,
  • demonstrate the above process with another person

Reimprinting

Prerequisites: rapport, perceptual positions, representational systems, predicates, eye-accessing cues, well-formed outcome, meta model, reframing, submodalities, attention training, milton model, transderivational search and change personal history

Learning outcomes:

  • to become aware of internal sensations as signals to indicate a state,
  • to be able to use internal signals to track back to earlier examples of a state,
  • to be able to elicit the imprint experience giving rise to the sensation,
  • to be able to change state and access resources for each significant party to the imprint experience,
  • to be able to bring resources to each significant party in the imprint experience,
  • to be aware of possible consequences and ecology in bringing resources to the parties to the imprint experience,
  • to have an experience of regression and time distortion,
  • to experience guiding someone else in this process,
  • to distinguish between simple and systemic interventions,
  • to be aware of the purpose in bringing resources to the least significant party first and progressing through increasing influence to end with the subject of the reimprint,
  • to understand the purpose of leaving all new resources turned off after editing until all parties have new resources,
  • to understand that resources are free and care and generosity with resources adds to the quality of the work,
  • to appreciate that any resource when functioning changes the system, hence the need to turn them off until everyone is resourced,
  • to appreciate that providing each party with resources creates a systemic change and facilitates deeper learning for the subject,
  • to appreciate the convincing nature of the experience for the subject when all parties resources are activated together

Competency:

  • use a transderivational search to find an imprint experience,
  • observe the imprint experience from 3rd position,
  • take second position with each of the parties to the experience commencing with the least significant and progressing in ascending order of influence,
  • return to third position between each visit to second position with a party and note the resources that would assist the party,
  • access plentiful resources for each of the parties in the imprint experience one at a time, starting with the least significant and progressing through to the subject,
  • demonstrate bringing resources to each party in the imprint experience, one at a time,
  • demonstrate switching off each party’s new resources after editing them, before moving on to the next party,
  • describe the difference in each party’s experience of the imprint situation when that party has resources functioning,
  • demonstrate consideration of consequences for the subject and ecology for the system,
  • demonstrate turning on all resources for all parties and reexperiencing the imprint situation,
  • demonstrate awareness of consequences and ecology when doing second order change work,
  • demonstrate bringing the changes to the present in first position,
  • demonstrate the above process with another person

Timeline elicitation and use

Prerequisites: rapport, perceptual positions, representational systems, predicates, eye-accessing cues, well-formed outcome, meta model, reframing, submodalities, attention training, milton model, transderivational search and change personal history

Learning outcomes:

  • to be aware that Steve and Connirae Andreas discovered and developed timelines,
  • to be aware that Robert Dilts and John Grinder developed the spatial use of timelines,
  • to be aware that it is ecological for someone’s timeline direction to conform to their eye-accessing cue direction (if the future is right with eye-accessing cues then the future time line should move to the right or ahead),
  • to be aware that timeline comprehension and use is an integral part of NLP,
  • to be aware that different people use different timelines from each other,
  • to be aware that many people use different timelines in different contexts,
  • to be aware that we can try on different timelines,
  • to be aware of different cultural timelines and concomitant time use,
  • to be aware that we can place resources in our past for present familiarity,
  • to be aware that we can place resources in our present and future to assist us,
  • to be aware that we can use timelines spatially or internally,
  • to be aware that we can reimprint on timelines,
  • to be aware that we can track the history of any state using timelines,
  • to be aware that we can change responses in the present by adding resources to the past

Competency:

  • demonstrate reimprinting on a spatial timeline with another person,
  • demonstrate time line elicitation with another person,
  • demonstrate planning a future event and placing it on timeline,
  • model several different timelines from others and try them on,
  • demonstrate incorporating perceptual positions into reimprint,
  • demonstrate incorporating structure of emotions into reimprint

New Behaviour Generator with Timeline

Prerequisites: rapport, perceptual positions, representational systems, predicates, eye-accessing cues, well-formed outcome, meta model, reframing, submodalities, attention training, milton model, transderivational search and change personal history

Learning outcomes:

  • to be aware of the structure of affirmations and visualisations,
  • to be able to use association and dissociation for editing internal movies,
  • to be able to make internal pictures to order,
  • to be able to use perceptual positions in gathering information and designing future actions,
  • to be able to develop and use internal representations to construct new capabilities,
  • to be able to construct and use submodality distinctions to enhance new capabilities,
  • to be familiar with the process and the structure of the process of creating and installing new capabilities,
  • to be able to place the finished product at a suitable time on the timeline and future pace it,
  • to be aware of the rest of the system in which the subject lives and to incorporate it,
  • to ensure that foreseeable consequences are acceptable and ecological

Competency:

  • demonstrate association and dissociation,
  • demonstrate the use of perceptual positions in the process,
  • demonstrate eliciting and associating into resource states,
  • demonstrate eliciting and associating into the chosen new capability,
  • demonstrate editing the new capability,
  • demonstrate awareness of the need for ecology and consideration of the system in different time frames,
  • demonstrate placing the finished product in the subject’s history on their time line,
  • demonstrate future pacing

Swish Patterns – Standard and Distance

Prerequisites: rapport, perceptual positions, representational systems, predicates, eye-accessing cues, well-formed outcome, meta model, reframing, submodalities, attention training, milton model, transderivational search and change personal history

Learning outcomes:

  • to be able to make internal pictures to order,
  • to be able to change internal pictures to order,
  • to be aware if there is a preference for distance or standard swish,
  • to be able to distinguish between associated and dissociated representations,
  • to be aware of the need for an unique and always present element in the first picture,
  • to be able to swish a pair of pictures at speed,
  • to be aware of the function of a swish,
  • to have an experience of the changing response in a swish pattern,
  • to be aware that some schools find the swish comparable and better than a six step reframe,
  • to be aware of the difference in pattern and application between a swish and a six step reframe,
  • to be aware of similarities between the pattern of a swish, a personal edit and a fast phobia process

Competency:

  • demonstrate establishing a preference for a distance or standard swish,
  • demonstrate a swish pattern with another person,
  • describe the function of a swish and suitable material for using it

Swish Patterns – Designer

Prerequisites: rapport, perceptual positions, representational systems, predicates, eye-accessing cues, well-formed outcome, meta model, reframing, submodalities, attention training, milton model, transderivational search and change personal history, standard and distance swish

Learning outcomes:

  • to be aware that a swish can operate in any representational system or combination,
  • to be able to elicit a preference in representational systems from another person,
  • to be aware of own preferences of representational systems,
  • to be able to use the designer swish pattern with any representational systems

Competency:

  • demonstrate designer swishes with different combinations of representational systems

Swish Patterns – Visual Kinaesthetic

Prerequisites: rapport, perceptual positions, representational systems, predicates, eye-accessing cues, well-formed outcome, meta model, reframing, submodalities, attention training, milton model, transderivational search and change personal history, standard and distance swish, designer swish

Learning outcomes:

  • to be able to use the swish pattern spatially,
  • to be able to experience the swish pattern in real time,
  • to be able to elicit and send resources in metaphoric visual form,
  • to be able to receive and respond to metaphoric visual resources from self,
  • to be able to elicit suitable states for using this process in others

Competency:

  • demonstrate guiding others through this process,
  • demonstrate experiencing this process,
  • describe the function of this process

Logical Levels and Chunking

Prerequisites: rapport, perceptual positions, representational systems, predicates, eye-accessing cues, well-formed outcome

Learning outcomes:

  • to understand the distinction between logical levels and logical types,
  • to be aware that logical levels is a classification system (started by the ancient Greeks),
  • to be aware that chunking up moves to greater abstraction,
  • to be aware that chunking down moves to greater specificity,
  • to be aware that chunking sideways produces comparable members of the same class,
  • to be aware that chunking sideways is also known as lateral thinking,
  • to be aware that a simple way to chunk sideways is to chunk up one level and then find a list of examples of its members,
  • to be aware that change work done at a higher logical level than that of the problem is more effective than using the same logical level

Competency:

  • demonstrate chunking up, down and sideways,
  • describe some uses of seeking the intention of peopleÐs outcomes,
  • describe some uses of seeking specificity,
  • describe some uses of lateral thinking,
  • demonstrate the use of chunking in establishing and maintaining rapport

Grinder and DeLozier’s Genius State

Prerequisites: circles of excellence, attention training, life lines, logical levels

Learning outcomes:

  • to be aware that changing state changes one’s perception of the world,
  • to be able to track and change peripheral vision,
  • to be able to silence internal dialogue,
  • to be able to apply well-formedness conditions to outcomes,
  • to be conversant with logical levels and chunking,
  • to have an experience of a genius state with life lines

Competency:

  • demonstrate eliciting a genius state using circles of excellence,
  • demonstrate wearing a genius state during an active dreaming walk,
  • demonstrate acting as guardian or guide to someone in a genius state,
  • demonstrate using life lines for those times where there is no guardian

Strategies

Prerequisites: rapport, perceptual positions, representational systems, predicates, eye-accessing cues, well-formed outcome, meta model, reframing, submodalities, attention training, milton model, transderivational search and change personal history

Learning outcomes:

  • to be aware of the existence of strategies for thinking,
  • to be aware of the well-formedness conditions for strategies,
  • to be aware that all representational systems are in use continuously,
  • to be aware that those representation sequences which show in eye-accessing cues are the strongest,
  • to be aware that strategies use the strongest representations,
  • to be aware of the seven basic strategies (learning, decision, reality, convincer, memory, creativity, motivation),
  • to be able to elicit strategies,
  • to be able to design effective and well-formed strategies,
  • to be able to check for effectiveness and well-formedness conditions,
  • to be able to streamline strategies,
  • to be able to install strategies by metaphor, rehearsal, demonstration and anchoring,
  • to experience conscious awareness of own strategies,
  • to observe the difference in people’s subjective experience of different strategies for doing a given function,
  • to have an experience of how others do their strategies by modelling them,
  • to have an experience of how we code reality and how others do it

Competency:

  • describe the well-formedness conditions for strategies,
  • list the seven generic strategies,
  • elicit a strategy,
  • check an elicited strategy for well-formedness and effectiveness,
  • streamline or redesign a strategy,
  • install the changes to a strategy,
  • try on others’ strategies

Metaphor

Prerequisites: rapport, perceptual positions, representational systems, predicates, eye-accessing cues, well-formed outcome, meta model, reframing, submodalities, attention training, milton model, transderivational search and change personal history, strategies

Learning outcomes:

  • to use Milton model language while telling a story or series of stories,
  • to be able to use metaphor,
  • to be aware that in NLP metaphor includes simile and allegory,
  • to be able to use universals from the culture, sub-culture or organisation of the audience,
  • to be able to construct and deliver an isomorphic metaphor,
  • to be able to tell a string of short metaphors for a purpose,
  • to be able to use metaphor as a vehicle for change,
  • to be able to tell metaphor to transfer a useful pattern hidden in interesting content,
  • to be aware of the distinction between deep and shallow metaphor,
  • to be able to describe a multiple embedded metaphor,
  • to be aware that people, organisations and cultures have deep metaphors they live by,
  • to be aware that deep metaphor is unconscious unless deliberately elicited,
  • to be aware that deep metaphor comes out in people’s language and expressions

Competency:

  • demonstrate eliciting a particular state through metaphor,
  • demonstrate offering a useful pattern through metaphor,
  • demonstrate a series of metaphors to make a change,
  • demonstrate an isomorphic metaphor,
  • describe a deep metaphor (eg business as war / sport)

Dilts’ Disney Creativity Strategy

Prerequisites: rapport, perceptual positions, representational systems, predicates, eye-accessing cues, well-formed outcome, meta model, reframing, submodalities, attention training, milton model, transderivational search and change personal history

Learning outcomes:

  • to be able to enter task specific resource states cleanly,
  • to be able to construct specific resource states for specific functions,
  • to be able to associate and dissociate cleanly at will,
  • to be able to shift between perceptual positions cleanly at will,
  • to be able to plan, develop and create a project from first principles,
  • to discover which of Disney’s dreamer, realist and critic states are more familiar,
  • to enhance, practice and redesign components of those less familiar,
  • to be aware that spatial sorting is a pattern while the Disney categories are content,
  • to be able to use multiple elements of NLP as appropriate,
  • to have an experience of Walt Disney’s method for creating

Competency:

  • demonstrate the Disney Creativity Strategy,
  • describe the point of keeping each state clean and separated,
  • describe the point of going in one direction and doing a complete round each time,
  • describe the point of planning the dream and criticising the plan,
  • describe the point of associating fully into each state

Separating Unwanted Synaesthesias

Prerequisites: rapport, perceptual positions, representational systems, predicates, eye-accessing cues, well-formed outcome, meta model, reframing, submodalities, attention training, milton model, transderivational search and change personal history

Learning outcomes:

  • to be aware of the importance of establishing the individual subject’s eye-accessing cues,
  • to be aware of the quadrant of each representation,
  • to be aware that the process can start at any point on the circle,
  • to be aware that replacing each representation in its place removes the intensity of the experience,
  • to be aware that some synaesthesias are viewed with defocused eyes in front,
  • to be aware that this process can be used regularly for daily experiences,
  • to have the experience of dismantling an unwanted synaesthesia,
  • to be aware of the relationship between this process and the fast phobia process,
  • to be aware that synaesthesias can be constructed by reversing this process

Competency:

  • demonstrate dismantling a synaesthesia with another person,
  • demonstrate dismantling a synaesthesia of one’s own,
  • describe suitable experiences for use with this process,
  • describe how the process could be reversed to create a synaesthesia with defocused vision straight ahead

The NLP Negotiation Model

Prerequisites: rapport, perceptual positions, representational systems, predicates, eye-accessing cues, well-formed outcome, meta model, reframing, submodalities, attention training, milton model, transderivational search and change personal history

Learning outcomes:

  • to achieve congruence within each member of negotiation team,
  • to achieve congruence between members of negotiation team,
  • to establish and maintain rapport within and between negotiation teams,
  • to establish well-formed outcome within negotiation team,
  • to chunk up high enough to provide multiple options for negotiation team,
  • to be aware of own negotiation teamÐs bottom line and best alternative to negotiated agreement,
  • to be aware that other interested parties’ higher logical level outcomes can be elicited,
  • to be aware that dovetailed outcomes lead to agreement,
  • to be aware that shared outcomes enhance rapport between negotiation teams,
  • to be aware that rapport between teams promotes an atmosphere of shared solution finding,
  • to be aware that negotiating with own side is never done in front of other interests,
  • to be aware of outframing, back tracking, relevancy, framing questions

Competency:

  • demonstrate parts negotiation with any internal conflict in each member of the team,
  • demonstrate establishing a well formed outcome,
  • use the outcome, intention and consequence model to chunk up,
  • establish a bottom line and alternative to negotiated agreement,
  • demonstrate eliciting outcomes and complex equivalents from other parties to the negotiation,
  • demonstrate dovetailing outcomes between parties to the negotiation, establishing and maintaining rapport,
  • demonstrate finding an acceptable excuse to talk to own team in private,
  • demonstrate out framing, back tracking and preparing other side for questions

Business Meeting Procedure

Prerequisites: rapport, perceptual positions, representational systems, predicates, eye-accessing cues, well-formed outcome, meta model, reframing, submodalities, attention training, milton model, transderivational search and change personal history

Learning outcomes:

  • be able to set agenda with quick items first,
  • be able to set and circulate time frame, date, time, location and agenda to all participants in advance,
  • be able to welcome participants and start on time,
  • establish procedure for questioning relevance (agenda on whiteboard),
  • establish ground rules, courtesy and local cultural requirements,
  • establish intent to finish on time regardless and to set another date if necessary,
  • proceed from quickest items to slowest,
  • if meeting runs effectively, it can finish inside the time frame allowing a period for social interaction at the end,
  • use principles of Disney Creativity Strategy (not criticising people, discussing problems and outcomes and plans),
  • allocate action to specific people and get their agreement to function, performance and time frames

Competency:

  • demonstrate setting up a meeting,
  • demonstrate chairing a meeting,
  • demonstrate keeping parties relevant,
  • demonstrate using the meta model to keep matters specific

Ecology

  • awareness of the presuppositions of NLP,
  • understanding the ‘as if’ frame with reference to the presuppositions of NLP,
  • recognising that the subject has choice at all times,
  • recognising that the subject’s values are the yardstick,
  • recognising that violating your own values is not useful,
  • recognising that process, not content will serve you and the subject effectively,
  • recognising that ‘why’ questions only lead to justification,
  • recognising that ‘what for’ questions provide high quality information on intent,
  • recognising that the subject’s model of the world is your starting point,
  • recognising that some interventions will not work and this is OK,
  • recognising that the present state has elements that may be worth keeping,
  • considering the costs and consequences of making and having every intervention,
  • considering the intervention from a systemic viewpoint,
  • establishing strong resource anchor for the subject before intervening,
  • establishing and maintaining rapport first, last and all the way through,
  • recognising the wisdom of using; multiple perceptual positions, multiple logical levels, multiple time frames,
  • recognising the accuracy of a clear congruency signal,
  • recognising that an incongruent response denotes a lack of information in the system

Assessment

Prerequisites: participation in all training sessions

Learning outcomes:

  • to discover one knows more than one thought,
  • to integrate the program into participants’ own thinking,
  • to revise any areas where participants are uncertain,
  • to change participants’ experience of assessment,
  • to introduce code congruency in assessment (same participants, same place, same media, same material, same time frames, same access to trainers, coaches, manual, notes etc),
  • to experience a complete piece of change work using any NLP processes that fit,
  • to experience working with different people as subject and guide,
  • to deepen the awareness of the presuppositions of NLP,
  • to gain additional practical exposure to NLP,
  • to gain greater appreciation of the conscious / unconscious interface,
  • to begin to use own expression of the NLP patterns,
  • to become familiar with the process of gathering information in depth as the basis for change work,
  • to become familiar with the routine concept of ecological checks and future pacing

Competency:

  • demonstrate rapport in interactions as a prerequisite for all other activity,
  • demonstrate any NLP concepts, processes, training exercises and language patterns from this program,
  • discuss the structure of any NLP processes from this program and reasoning for choices,
  • demonstrate mixing and matching NLP processes to fit the client and situation,
  • discuss the presuppositions of NLP and one’s understanding of them,
  • give a five to ten minute presentation on a topic from this program with minimal preparation

Learn more

Check our 10970NAT Graduate Certificate in Neuro-Linguistic Programming program.

(Note: If you would like to learn more about the New Code of NLP you can get a copy of  our latest Kindle book ‘AEGIS: Patterns for extending your reach in life, work & leisure’ by Jules Collingwood, NLP Trainer. For only $4.99 here).

Learn more about NLP, read our Ultimate NLP Compendium of NLP

If you found this article useful, please share it!

 

An Introduction Time Lines in Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP)

Time line work is an essential component of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP). Originating from the pioneering efforts of Steve and Connirae Andreas, as well as John Grinder and Robert Dilts, time lines have evolved into powerful tools for introspection and personal growth. These NLP practitioners developed two main forms of time lines – internally represented and externally laid out.

Steve and Connirae Andreas initiated their approach through submodality distinctions, inviting individuals to visualize an internal line symbolising their life journey. Various colors and textures could be employed to represent different periods, and people could engage with these lines in multiple ways, such as floating above or looking out at them. Like other submodality exercises, time lines are most effective when they are vivid and easily navigable.

Concurrently, in 1987, John Grinder and Robert Dilts adopted a different methodology. They encouraged individuals to visualise a line on the ground, symbolising the person’s life from birth to the present and beyond. This external representation enabled people to physically engage with different periods, immerse themselves into specific experiences, or take a detached, meta perspective.

Contrary to some promotional efforts, time line work is not a separate entity but a versatile tool within NLP. A common misconception is the idea that revisiting a point on our time line prior to a traumatic event is enough for lasting change. This is far from the truth. While revisiting can serve as a good starting point, it’s crucial to also apply resources to the traumatic event itself, which allows us to modify our emotional response. This will be elaborated on in a future article titled “Reimprinting with Time Lines.”

What Exactly Is a Time Line?

A time line is a metaphorical framework that depicts how we perceive time, organize our memories, and plan for the future. This perception varies from person to person. Some may visualise the past as behind them, while others place it to one side. Time lines also differ in their levels of association or dissociation with our current experience. 

Common features do exist across time lines. For example, they usually align with our eye accessing cues, and adjustments to this alignment can often bring about emotional relief. Additionally, we can adapt our time lines to suit various life contexts, whether it’s work, family, or personal interests. Understanding your unique representation of time can empower you to make more effective decisions, plan and live a more fulfilling life.

Learn more

Check our 10970NAT Graduate Certificate in Neuro-Linguistic Programming program.

(Note: If you would like to learn more about the New Code of NLP you can get a copy of  our latest Kindle book ‘AEGIS: Patterns for extending your reach in life, work & leisure’ by Jules Collingwood, NLP Trainer. For only $4.99 here).

Learn more about NLP, read our Ultimate NLP Compendium of NLP

If you found this article useful, please share it!

 

An interview with Chris Collingwood 1999

By Claire Andrea Zammit

1. What is NLP?

Neuro-Linguistic Programming explores how we know what we know and how we do what we do. Neuro means brain, linguistics language and programming refers to coding (representation). It examines the relationships between thought, communication and behaviour.

NLP is an “epistemology” meaning the study of how we know what we know. You could think of it as a way of exploring the patterns of organisation and behaviour of human intuition (neuro-linguistic programmes).

NLP is also a “methodology” which allows us to unpack how we do what we do. By using NLP as a methodology we can explore how people organise their thinking processes, their beliefs and their behaviour so that we can replicate their skills and capabilities in particular areas. Those skills and capabilities can then be transferred to others. See our What is NLP? FAQ.

2. So how is it useful?

If someone is very skillful and has spent years developing a particular capability, we can use NLP to build a description of how they perform that capability. We can replicate the patterns of organisation that make up their intuitions and then those skills can be transferred to other people, so others can learn the same capabilities far more rapidly than would be possible through the usual ways of learning.

We modelled one of Sydney’s best futures and commodities traders. This gentleman gets a very high return on his trades. His average was 70% return per annum for the past seven years before we worked with him. We were able to unpack how he made such effective trading decisions and other important patterns concerning his trading. As a result we are able to work with other traders, coaching them to enhance their skills in derivatives trading.

In terms of application, there are descriptions of patterns of organisation from great psychotherapists, educators and business people available through the NLP community and generic NLP models for gathering high quality information, exploring thinking processes and enhancing relationships. If you want to learn how to learn, how to think and enhance your communication skills then NLP is useful.

3. Can NLP be used to make fast changes?

Some people get very rapid change. With others a number of consultations is more appropriate. It depends on the client, the context and the client’s outcome. An NLP practitioner will design a series of interventions to help each client create changes in an ecological time frame (a time frame that supports positive consequences for the client and their significant relationships). The relationship between client and practitioner is very important. Usually the greater the rapport, the greater the potential for change.

4. Can you give me an example of some of the fastest changes?

There is an NLP process for reducing phobias that helps some people in 20 minutes. The perceived speed of NLP change work is relative to the time needed for an equivalent piece of work using other methodologies. However the quality of lasting change with NLP is more important than the shorter time frame. NLP provides a methodology for detecting and using patterns enabling clients to make lasting changes in their lives in a few sessions rather than years of therapy. A skilled practitioner designs an approach for each client rather than fitting clients to technique or philosophy.

5. How is NLP itself different from its applications?

NLP explores how we take information in from the world, how we represent the world in our mind, organise ourselves and then shape our behaviour. With NLP we can build descriptions of how people organise themselves. We look at embodied patterns of organisation that enable the expression of mental, emotional and physical activity. That is what NLP is: an epistemology and a methodology for modelling human excellence.

Now from that epistemology and methodology, multiple applications from NLP have arisen (and many more yet to be derived). There are applications to psychotherapy and counselling, education, business, management to leadership, negotiation, artistic endeavours. There are applications of NLP to almost every major area of human endeavour.

6. It’s very important that people appreciate the distinctions between the applications of NLP and NLP itself.

Often people are more interested in the applications, probably because they can measure results immediately. I think for personal evolution, learning NLP as an epistemology and methodology has a marked flow on effect throughout a person’s life. In contrast, learning set procedures or an application of NLP to just one context can be limiting. For example, if you learn specifically to create a compelling future, or to sell or do effective psychotherapy, it will be harder to transfer those skills to other contexts. Someone may be a very good negotiator but have a lousy relationship at home. By learning NLP itself, people generalise the principles and underlying patterns into multiple areas of their lives and get much richer value.

7. So how is it different from other techniques?

NLP is not a set of techniques or a collection of formats. Many techniques have been developed through the epistemology and methodology of NLP. Now if we compare NLP processes to other techniques, the significant distinction is that a skilled NLP practitioner or trainer understands the patterns behind the techniques. They will use the processes to frame a context where the client can have a rich experience of the underlying pattern (or patterns).

With a rich array of patterns of organisation in your system of mind, then in any context (e.g. psychotherapy), you can design interventions on the spot and tailor processes for each client, rather than robotically using existing formats for clients in general. NLP trained people who rely on technique (poorly trained) tend to have inflexible responses to our rich and diverse world.

8. So it is unfair to say that NLP is just a set of tools?

Yes, when people think of NLP as just a set of tools’, probably they have only experienced the applications of NLP, not NLP as an epistemology and methodology for modelling. Their training may have over emphasised procedure; I call it doing NLP by numbers (like painting by numbers).

NLP is a system that creates tools (including techniques / formats) as a by-product. Rather than focusing on tools, it is more useful to attend to NLP as a system that promotes the personal enrichment and skill development for people, their families and communities as a byproduct of modelling human excellence.

9. So is NLP a way of thinking?

I like to think of NLP as a useful approach for exploring the different ways of thinking that skilled and capable people have in their lives. If you model a group of excellent teachers you can build models of their range of expertise. All fit with the outcome of excellent teaching. Instead of having one way of thinking, with NLP you can have many approaches to any outcome in the appropriate context/s where you want to have that outcome. It naturally supports and enhances creativity.

10. Can a person develop their individuality through NLP?

I think so. Each of us is unique and NLP does respect the uniqueness of the individual. Instead of claiming one ‘right’ way of doing something, with NLP you can explore and add many choices to your life, your family and your community. Skill in detecting and using patterns is a key to having many choices available. Having choice supports both individuality and co-operation with others.

11. Can NLP be used for deep level personal development?

You can use NLP to choose the way you want to be in life, and the skills and capabilities you want to develop. You can use NLP to explore your own patterns of thinking and behaviour. You can model yourself. In other words you can replicate the best examples of your own skills and capabilities access them more consistently. Also you can use NLP to explore other people’s skills and capabilities and increase your range of behavioural choice.

12. How can you tell if someone has really mastered NLP?

There is a natural quality to their communication and behaviour and a smoothness in their movement. Often it is easier to spot someone who has a partial or poor training in NLP. With those people you can see procedural behaviour as if they were following a set of instructions. A skilled in NLP practitioner is very natural and it can be quite difficult to detect their NLP background.

13. How long would it take to achieve a level of mastery with NLP?

It’s quite an individual matter. As a rule of thumb it is useful for a person to attend practitioner and master practitioner two or three times in two or three years and to practice processes regularly until those skills are totally integrated. With NLP it’s great to take a pattern, to practice it until it becomes familiar and then forget about it consciously while it becomes part of your repertoire. Then move your conscious attention to the next pattern you want to incorporate.

14. What is the best way of learning NLP?

My personal opinion is that learning NLP experientially through live seminars where you are immersed in the experience of the NLP patterns is most effective. I think watching videos and listening to audio tapes can help but not as a substitute for hands on training.

15. I’ve seen lots of NLP courses advertised ranging anywhere from seven days to 21 days for practitioner training. What would be the advantage of a longer training?

NLP is best learned experientially. The more live training days where you are actively engaged in your own learning as a participant, the better. Also the quality of the trainers is very important. You want to have skilled and experienced trainers. It can be difficult to find out if a trainer is highly skilled. Generally you would be better off trained by people who studied with one of the originators of NLP, in contrast to fourth or fifth generation trainers. It is like a game of Chinese whispers: The closer you are to the source, the higher the quality of information. If someone claims to be trained by Grinder or Bandler, ask them how many days and at what level. There are trainers who make this claim on the strength of a single day’s participation in one the originators’ seminars.

In the last few years the length of training for practitioners has been shrinking. Some training promoters are claiming that “using accelerated learning methods” they can teach “practitioner” training in a very short amount of time. Our response is that NLP patterns are the basis for accelerated learning, and that the people who benefit most from shorter trainings are the trainers themselves in terms of lower overheads, increased earning capacity, and more free time.

Full length trainings do not necessarily cost more than short ones, and you will usually find the trainers running them are committed to a thorough transfer of NLP (experientially and conceptually with the emphasis on the experiential acquisition of the patterns).

16. What could I expect at the end of Inspiritive’s practitioner training?

Expect an enrichment of your skills in communication with others and in communication with yourself; skills in choosing your emotional and psychological states; skills for enhancing your relationships (professional and personal); skills that explore and develop your thinking processes. Skills that enable you to model and replicate your own talents, behaviour and capabilities, even refining, enhancing and enriching them.

Please note that since this interview our NLP Practitioner program has been superseded and replaced by a new post-graduate credential – the Graduate Certificate in Neuro-Linguistic Programming.

17. How do NLP practitioners help clients?

By creating a context where clients can explore, discover and experience the resources that they need to assist them with the outcomes they have set for the session. By resources I mean skills, behaviours, understanding, beliefs; anything that makes a difference in the ability of the client to achieve their outcomes with positive flow on consequences.

18. Can practitioners assist clients to discover their outcomes?

Practitioners create a context where clients can explore and develop their outcomes, discover what they want, how they would know if they got it, what resources they would need to develop to achieve that outcome and the costs and consequences of achieving that outcome. See our article on creating a Well-Formed Outcome.

19. How do you know if someone is a good NLP practitioner or trainer?

There is a congruence in their communication; an alignment in their body language and their verbal language. The practitioner or trainer has a focus on the relationship between themselves and the client or student. They will ask questions and suggest trains of thought that enable the individual to make their own discoveries. Also avoid anyone who describes NLP as a way to manipulate and control people and get them to do things for you.

20. Can NLP be a tool for manipulation?

NLP is a neutral field of endeavour. Like anything else with wide applications that works, it can be used or abused. Responsible practitioners and trainers assist clients and students to discover their own outcomes and to consider those outcomes in relation to their whole life system before acting on them. Responsible practitioners do not try to impose their will on others but they may invite clients to question beliefs that could be limiting them.

21. How do I know if I’m getting good training?

The evidence is in the results you get by the end of the training. Compare the level of skill you had before the training with the level of skill you have after the training and your outcomes at the beginning of the training with how effectively you have achieved them. Also you may discover enhancements in the quality of your communication skills, your thinking skills, your expression, your relationship to the outer world months or even years after the training.

22. If I have already done some training with another organisation and I am concerned with the quality of training I have received what can I do?

I suggest reviewing the outcomes you had for doing that training, reflect on if or how deeply you explored those outcomes with the trainers at the beginning of the training. Ask your trainers about it. If you are still not happy with what you have achieved you may like to consider what you want from NLP and you can call us at Inspiritive to talk about your outcomes. You may be able to get those outcomes through repeating a practitioner training with us. (Discounts available for Certified NLP Practitioners you want to repeat practitioner training).

23. Is NLP training expensive?

Good quality training is relatively inexpensive. For around Aus. $340 per day, for what you learn it is extremely good value for money. In Australia self education expenses are tax deductible. And frankly, in terms of the benefits of learning NLP how can you afford not to accelerate your personal evolution.

24. How long have you been involved in NLP?

I first read about NLP back in 1979. I read an article called “People who read People” written by Daniel Goleman in a magazine called Psychology Today. By the end of the article I knew that this was what I wanted to do. At that time I had to import all three books that had been published. It took three months for the books to arrive! I was so fascinated I read them over and over again. As soon as I could I completed an NLP Practitioner training. By the end of 1981 I was counselling people using NLP full time in a Doctor’s surgery. In 1983 I started training in NLP. In 1984 I met John Grinder and I’ve never looked back.

25. What excites you the most about NLP?

Through the epistemology and methodology of NLP a person can create their own personal culture and have choice about what they do and where they go, what they create, how they express themselves. I think it provides a personal renaissance for people.

I am deeply satisfied when I think about many former students who have blossomed in terms of their own evolution and experience of life through NLP. They are out in the world more capable, doing what they want to do, following their dreams and creating what they want to create.

26. Who are the originators of NLP?

NLP was originated by Dr. John Grinder, an associate Professor of Linguistics, Richard Bandler and Frank Pucelik back in the early to mid 70’s while John was working at the University of California Santa Cruz. See our interview with Dr John Grinder.

27. Who are some of the people who have developed NLP?

In the early days there was a small group of people around John and Richard, many of whom have since contributed to NLP. Judith DeLozier and Carmen Bostic St Clair co-developed new code NLP with John. Leslie Cameron-Bandler has made significant contributions with models for working with emotions and personality. Robert Dilts had a lasting impact on NLP. See our Who’s Who in NLP.

28. Does Anthony Robbins use NLP?

Anthony Robbins was an NLP trainer. Now he applies NLP to teach personal success. Many people who enjoyed his seminars then decide they want to study NLP and come to our courses. During the 24 day practitioner training people have the opportunity to learn NLP as an epistemology and methodology and immerse themselves deeply in the NLP patterns to develop skills and capabilities of their choice. I am grateful for the work that Robbins has done to inspire people to go further into learning NLP.

29. Is there a relationship between Time-Line processes and NLP?

Timeline processes are products of NLP. Mental timelines were developed by Steve and Connirae Andreas, physical timelines by John Grinder and Robert Dilts. Mental and Physical time lines are explored in quality practitioner trainings. This includes time line elicitation, modelling timelines (self and others) and using time lines for change. See the Steve and Connirae Andreas article A Brief History of Timelines.

30. What is the difference between Classic and New code NLP?

A useful way of thinking about the difference between new code NLP and classic code NLP is in terms of emphasis.

Classic code emphasises technique, mechanistic metaphors and the production of NLP technicians. It uses conscious explicit models that are often divorced from their original context. With Classic code you often hear the questions “where do I use this technique” and “how do I know which technique to use”? There is a tendency for classic code trained practitioners to try to fit clients to procedures, rather than creating interventions with clients.

New code emphasises the relationship between the conscious and unconscious minds of the individual, their relationships with others and their relationship with the world. It works towards the personal evolution of the participant. New code promotes unconscious competence. Training drills are used in service to pattern incorporation and the development of unconscious competence. The balance between the conscious and unconscious minds is paramount. This is known as the conscious / unconscious interface. New code is directed towards the detection and utilisation of patterns in the world, with an emphasis on patterns. A new code practitioner often creates a process spontaneously in response to a particular context. In new code participants do a lot of exploration of psychological states. They learn to recognise, inventory and change states. This work connects in with the development and incorporation by each participant of a modelling state. A state of mind for modelling excellence. Another aspect of New code is attention training (essential for modelling). That is learning where and how you place your attention, how that relates to state, perceptual position and context. My understanding is that Grinder and DeLozier (and then Bostic St Clair) developed new code as a second description of Neuro-Linguistic programming to create a system for learning NLP which is more likely to foster the development of systemic wisdom in the participant. If you want to learn more about New code read Turtles All the Way Down by Judith Delozier and John Grinder and Whispering in the Wind by Carmen Bostic St Clair and John Grinder. For an article on the New Code please read The New Code of Neuro-Linguistic Programming; a paradigm shift in NLP by Chris Collingwood.

For people who want a comprehensive training in NLP we teach a postgraduate qualification – 10970NAT Graduate Certificate in Neuro-Linguistic Programming. This NLP program incorporates the original classic code NLP key models within a New Code NLP design as well as many of the New Code NLP models.

© 1999 Chris and Jules Collingwood, Claire Zammit.

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Learn more about NLP, read our Ultimate NLP Compendium of NLP