| NLP has been called the study of subjective | | | | and present rather than on why. In general this is taken |
| experience. Its central contention is that people operate | | | | to be a process of "deletion" in which some |
| from and respond to their "construction" of their | | | | experiences are ignored, "generalisation" in which |
| experiences rather than from a single external "reality". | | | | universal rules are inferred from individual sets of |
| They have their own unique models or maps of the | | | | experiences, and "distortion" in which connections are |
| world and each one is different from every other. All | | | | made between experiences, the intensity or quality of |
| such "maps" are valid whilst no map is fully able to | | | | which may be heightened or diminished by internal |
| represent the "territory" or external reality itself.NLP | | | | processing. |
| has a theoretical basis the core of which is that it is a | | | | "Experiences" are highly varied but they can finally be |
| way of thinking about people which has proved | | | | described in terms of past and present sensory inputs |
| practical and effective in a wide range of applications, | | | | modified by deletion, generalisation and distortion. That |
| contexts and situations. It is not held to be "true", but it | | | | is to say, that at any one time, an individual has access |
| is taken as a useful model. The model itself is organic | | | | to external sensory inputs through the visual, auditory, |
| and changes as new applications are explored. It is | | | | kinaesthetic, abstract, gustatory and olfactory channels |
| broadly based and draws on concepts from many | | | | and to internal constructions {memories, with or without |
| areas of psychology and psychotherapy. | | | | deletion and distortion, and synthesised fantasies} |
| Early influences stem from the Gestalt "school", the | | | | which can be described in terms of the same basic |
| family therapy of Virginia Satire, Ericksonian brief | | | | five senses. The particular "construction" actually |
| therapy, and humanistic psychology. There are also | | | | experienced depends on the extent of distortion and |
| clear links with the fields of systems theory, | | | | deletion in each of the ten categories {five internal and |
| behavioural psychology and linguistics, especially the | | | | five external}.The "meaning" ascribed to the |
| works of Bateson, Watzlawick, Korzybsky and | | | | experience depends on the extent of generalisation or |
| Chomsky.NLP addresses the issues of creating | | | | distortion applied to it. Change takes place in the |
| expectations which cannot sensibly be realised. To do | | | | present and is experienced in the future. Understanding |
| this there is a great deal of emphasis placed on the | | | | the "past" as a means to achieve change, is in effect |
| concept of "ecology" in the personal and corporate | | | | understanding the present construction of the past. |
| change work in NLP. The changes sought must be | | | | Cybernetics and systems theory provide a metaphor |
| fully representative of the whole person or system, | | | | for the NLP model of personality. It is seen as being |
| and not just a part that may be fanciful {albeit also | | | | one where the person is driven by cognitive patterns |
| creative} or careless of the potential adverse | | | | of experience rather than by cause and effect chains. |
| consequences of change.The NLP approach is | | | | NLP psychotherapy is typically brief compared with |
| "reflexive" in that therapists seek to make their own | | | | some other types of psychotherapy. Furthermore |
| psychological processes explicit and to understand | | | | because NLP is generative as well as remedial, work |
| these in terms of the theoretical model on which their | | | | with an NLP therapist or counsellor can move on from |
| therapeutic approach is based. The essential remedial | | | | dealing with past limitations to future performance in |
| and generative model for change is NLP. | | | | order to achieve personal and professional |
| In NLP it is stated that PRESENT STATE + | | | | goals.James Angove has an interesting and varied |
| RESOURCES = DESIRED STATE. Where the | | | | professional background in the field of corporate |
| resources are "enabling states" drawn from client's | | | | multi-nationals. Twenty years ago he embarked upon a |
| own experience.The NLP psychotherapist and | | | | change of direction and began training as a therapist. |
| counsellor seeks to help the client to identify the | | | | He is a Certified Master Practitioner, and Trainer of |
| desired state and then achieve it using his or her own | | | | the Art of Neuro Linguistic Programming. He is |
| internal resources. This can involve the client in | | | | experienced in the use of Bio energetics, Reflexology, |
| changing limiting beliefs, acquiring new beliefs, and / or | | | | Ericksonian Hypnosis and Psychotherapy. He |
| gaining insights into patterns of behaviour, thereby | | | | combines the experience of both fields of business, |
| enabling more choices. | | | | and therapy to bring a new and pervasive perspective |
| Whilst the client's personal history is taken as relevant | | | | to finding solutions and enhancing trainings. His website |
| to his or her present state, the emphasis is on how he | | | | is Therapist Online. |
| or she constructs that state from experiences past | | | | |