What Is NLP 3/96

What is Neuro-Linguistic Programming(tm)?

Neuro-Linguistic Programming(tm) (NLP(tm)) is defined as the study of the
structure of subjective experience and what can be calculated from that and
is predicated upon the belief that all behaviour has structure. People such
as Virginia Satir, Milton Erickson and Fritz Perls had amazing results with
their clients.  They were some of the people who's linguistic and
behavioural patterns Richard Bandler built formal models of. He then
applied these models to his work.

Because these models are formal they also allow for prediction and
calculation.  Patterns that may not have been available in any of these
people's work could be calculated from the formal representations he had
created.  New techniques and models were (and still are being) developed.
Since the models that constitute NLP(tm) describe how the human brain
functions they are used in order to teach them.  NLP(tm) is not a
diagnostic tool.  It can only be applied and can therefore only be taught
experientially.

Well trained Neuro-Linguistic Programmers(tm) will always teach by
installation, not by teaching technique after technique.  Techniques
outdate themselves too quickly to base the field of NLP(tm) on a set of
techniques.  It is based upon the attitude, the models and the skills which
allow for constant generation of new techniques which are more effective
and work faster.

Although many providers make certain courses prerequisite to the attendance
of other courses,  Dr. Bandler has no such prerequisites for any of his
seminars.  Learning does not come in levels.  Once the underlying pattern,
by which something can be learned has been taught, the material becomes not
only easily accessible but a logical extension. For example, once somebody
has learned how to read it no longer matters whether a book is five pages
or two-hundred pages long.  Similarly, once someone has been taught the
spelling strategy it does not matter whether the word is two or five
letters long, you just have to look at the picture.  Each seminar is based
upon different sets of knowledge.  Therefore it is not necessary to do them
in any specific order. Each seminar that Dr. Bandler teaches is different.
Once someone has attended one practitioner course it does not mean that the
practitioner material has been learned and that person should therefore go
to a different course.  You have to remember that the names and
certificates are only names and certificates not the material nor the
knowledge! Neuro-Linguistic Programming(tm) was specifically created in
order to allow us to do magic by creating new ways of understanding how
verbal and non-verbal communication affect the human brain. As such it
presents us all with the opportunity to not only communicate better with
others, but also learn how to gain more control over what we considered to
be automatic functions of our own neurology.

(C) 1996 The First Institute of Neuro-Linguistic Programming(tm)  and
Design Human Engineering(tm)