NEW PRODUCT LAUNCH: NLP EXERCISE eMANUAL

I just wanted to let you know that the second of my planned releases of online information and support products for "NLPers" is here:

Click here for more information and download immediately.

This emanual (available as a downloadable pdf) is an updated, expanded and re-edit version of the one I made available (as a printed version) to members of my practice group in 2006, it is also part of the supporting literature for my NLP trainings.

NLP is a practical subject and cannot be learned by watching it, listening to it or reading about it. You have to DO it. To really master it, you have to practice, practice, practice!

With that in mind, this is a collection of the NLP exercises I use on my trainings, workshops, practice groups and when mentoring NLP Practitioners.

With over 70 pages of exercises, information and tips, this emanual is designed as an easy reference guide for you to hone your NLP skills.

It is ideal for anyone who are wants to practice their NLP skills, especially if you are:

• An NLP training company and looking for fresh ideas
• Run a regular practice group

Usual price £12.99 Special introductory offer for the next 7 days (until midnight on Wednesday 25th November) only £8.99

Click here for more information and download immediately.


Best wishes,
Matt

Tags: nlp training, NLP, practice groups, nlp practitioner training

Regulation in NLP - The HPC

Regulation continues to be a hot topic in NLP, with everyone seeming to have an opinion about how it should be regulated and who should be doing the regulating.

Well, here in the UK there have been some very interesting changes in the regulation of health professionals recently. The Health Professional Council (www.hpc-uk.org) has been established and from 1st July this year it is now in charge of regulating a collection of health professions (obvious really, given it's title).

It has created a list of "protected title", i.e, job titles you can only call yourself if you are accredited by the HPC. Calling, passing your self off, or alluding to yourself as, one of these protected titles without relevant qualification is criminal offence.

Most relevant to NLP are the following psychological titles that have been protected:

• Practitioner psychologist
• Registered psychologist
• Clinical psychologist
• Counselling psychologist
• Educational psychologist
• Forensic psychologist
• Health psychologist
• Occupational psychologist
• Sport and exercise psychologist

There are moves to add psychotherapists to this list, but so far the psychotherapy profession has resisted the move, preferring self-regulation. However, if they cannot prove that self-regulation is effective then they may lose control of it to the HPC.

There are also rumours that hypnotherapy and clinic hypnosis will be absorbed in to the HPC regulatory framework.

If hypnotherapy is absorbed in the HPC, how long will it be before connected fields such as NLP and EFT are also absorbed?

There is quite a clear argument for such practices as hypnotherapy and EFT, etc to be more firmly regulated, as they are primarily used as a therapy. It seems absurd to me that someone who has done and online hypnotherapy course (or in the case of EFT, no training whatsoever - since it is not regulated at all and the information is free to obtain) can set themselves up and start seeing clients, some of whom may have serious mental health problems.

But that is happening. A lot.

However the problem I have with excessive regulation of NLP is that NLP has such a broad range of application. Does a person who wants to train in NLP to improve their sales ability, for example, need to be as strongly regulated as someone who intends to use it as a therapy?

Of course not.

Remember NLP IS NOT A THERAPY (www.nlpisnottherapy.com). Although it may have it's roots in the therapists and therapeutic processes of the early 70's, but has, since the early 80's, branched out into personal development, business, education and sports, to name just a few. It is an educational tool that can be applied to any field you wish.

But, it is becoming quite clear that something has to be done and the NLP community (for want of a better word) need to start working together or accept external regulation from a body such as the HPC.

The irony, of course, is that certain legal precedents that came out of several court cases in the 1990's and early 2000's (when Richard Bandler attempted to subsume control of the technology he created) essentially deregulated the field of NLP entirely, ruling that NLP had been the public domain for too long for one person or organisation to claim ownership (and therefore control and regulatory responsibility) of NLP.

But there we go. NLP, eh?

Tags: NLP, Richard Bandler, regulation, hpc, Health Professionals Council

Regulation in NLP?

A recent BBC investigation (on BBC's Inside Out television programme) has generated a lot of interest:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/8303126.stm

If you live in the UK you can see the programme again here (for a limited time only)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00nbwhs/Inside_Out_North_East_and_Cumbria_12_10_2009/

I have been inundated with people involved in the NLP and hypnosis scene putting their opinions across, so I thought I would put some of my thoughts down.

What this programme made clear is that there are a lot of sham, shoddy and lazy companies, therapist and qualification bodies out there. What it DIDN'T mention where the hundreds (if not more) of respected, professional and ethical therapists and organisations out there.

So, bear in mind, that this was a very, very one sided view and one with a very limited scope (not really an exhaustive study! In fact, I would argue, a bit of lazy sensationalism that has probably indirectly negatively effected the reputations of 100's of professional therapists. But that really is the standard of "investigative journalism" nowadays. Anyhoo, that is a rant for a different blog!)

However, it did bring up some interesting points:

The commercialisation of NLP and hypnosis has been going on for years and, I am sure, will go on for much longer. The problem is with this is that it attracts charlatans and scam artists who are out there to get a quick buck, as well as, I am sure well intentioned, but deluded, people thinking they have skills and abilities they don't have.

The argument for regulation in NLP and hypnosis has been rumbling along for years, but with the field becoming more and more popular over the recent years (both for people seeking a practitioner to help change and for people wanting to become practitioners themselves) the urgency of the argument to discuss more robust regulation, and if it is need, has been growing and growing.

I don't know the answer to be honest. But I think there is definitely a need for some form of stronger regulation, or at least education. People looking for NLP and hypnosis are overwhelmed with hundreds if not thousands of people making claims, (some totally outlandish!) about what they can do, how is a newbie meant to know what is kosher and what is a scam? There is a strong argument to made for a (genuinely) independent body to educate people about NLP. Sadly I still haven't seen a body that fits that criteria, nor am I actually convinced that is practically possible.

There are 2 problems I can think of with increased regulation: Who does the regulating and on what criteria?

I haven't heard anyone offer an effective set of criteria yet to use for regulation, apart from the rather vague "ethical guidelines" that don't really mean anything and are so ambiguous as to be pointless. (Particularly with NLP) no one can even agree what it actually is! So how can you regulate it effectively?

And, most crucially, who is going to be the regulator? Often with things like this, the role of regulator fall to the people who shout the loudest, these people often have a very strong personal interest in controlling NLP (usually for financial gain) or are petty bureaucrats who just like bossing people about. Both of which, I am sure you can agree are not the best personalities to be given control of a field (any field).

Any, I would argue that blanked regulation of NLP is unfeasible and unnecessary. NLP is NOT a therapy (www.nlpisnottherapy.com), it is primarily a methodology and a toolset. The large proportion of people I train in NLP have no intention of ever using NLP for therapy and want to use it in a professional or personal setting (sales, business management, communication, education, etc). These people don't need as higher a regulation as people who are making claims about therapy. With NLP having such broad ranging applications it seems clear to me that it needs a sliding scale of regulation.

I think, although I cannot speak for them, this why the Society of NLP has always avoided excessive regulation (for more details, listen the "Modeling the Masters" audio series at www.modeling-the-masters.com). They believe, very strongly that NLP is an educational field, not a therapeutic one. John La Valle, the president of the Society of NLP uses NLP predominantly in a business setting.

Rather than regulation, I suggest, initially, more clarification should be encouraged. Trainers should explain what the training involves and what the qualification is for. This onus should be placed on training companies (who should really avoid marketing hyperbole!). I make it quite clear in my trainings and in my marketing literature, that I do not teach NLP for "therapy" I teach the methodology of NLP that you can apply where you want, and always make it clear that if you intend to do NLP for therapy you need additional training and study.

Matt

Tags: regulation, NLP, BBC, Inside Out, Society of NLP, John La Valle

The Menu Is Not the Meal

The number one presupposition of NLP, as if it was written one the back of one of the stone tablets brought down from the mountain, is considered to be "The Map Is The Territory".

The saying "The Map is Not the Territory" actually comes from Alfred Korzybski's General Semantics and states (very, very simply) that the words we use to describe something is not the thing (if you are thirsty no matter how many times you said "water" you will still be thirsty), however we often act as if the words we use are the things we are trying to describe and the words we use to describe something can actually change our interpretation of what it is, for example if I said "be careful, that dog bites", I have essentially changed your reality and you will act as if it is true...

In NLP, Richard Bandler took this phrase and expanded it to describe the idea that our internal representations (how we think about things, what images, sounds, feeling and tastes and smells that we create in our minds) of the world are not the world. These representations are just a map of the world that we use to navigate the external "territory", but more often that not we forget that this map is only a map and act as if it IS the territory. From which problems can arise!

However, I have discovered over the years of teaching NLP, this phrase can be a tad too abstract for people to get their heads around. They are so used to treating their map of the world AS the world that the idea that is isn't is not adequately conveyed in the idea of the "the map is not the territory".

So, I prefer an alternative analogy or metaphor that that I believe was said by Alan Watts (in his usual light hearted way), and that is "The Menu is Not the Meal" If you think about it, "The Menu is Not the Meal" is a much better way of thinking about our internal representation of the world (our "menu") and how they interact with the outside world (the "meal").

The description of the food is not the food; reading the menu does not make us full (although, ironically, it may make us feel more hungry!). The description of the food written on the menu, the picture of the food (if it is a menu from a dodgy takeaway!) or the waiter describing the food to you (if you in a fancy restaurant) and the way that description makes you feel IS NOT the food. It will never be the food. You cannot experience the food until you actually eat it! But, you need the menu to know what you could be eating, to help you make an informed decision and to understand the food (this is your "map") and, obviously there is a feedback there; we have to have eaten the food, or some of it, so we can create a representation of what the menu is describing.

I think "The Menu is Not the Meal" is an easier and more immediate (it is simple, easy to understand and grounded in our experiences) to understand that our internal representations of the world around us are not the world around us, than the phrase "The Map is Not the Territory".

So, do you prefer the analogy "The Menu is Not the Meal"? Or do you like the more traditional "The Map is Not the Territory"?! Please feel free to leave your comments below.

Tags: NLP, Richard Bandler, Alan Watts, Alfred Korzybski, General Semantics

NLP Practitioner - 25th September

I have a few last minute places left on my NLP Practitioner training that starts this Friday (25th). Know anyone that is interested (you could earn some commission!)?

Click here for details

Richard Bandler on iPhone app: FREE for a short time!

A message from John La Valle:

"I just received this announcement and want to share it with you!!

Just released on iTunes – MindSpa iMeditation by Dr. Richard Bandler. If you have an iPhone™ or iPod Touch™ download immediately while it is free and make sure to give the app. a 5 star rating with superlative reviews. This is the first of many apps coming.

The MindSpa application takes the unique capabilities of the iPhone and iPod Touch to a new level by simultaneously providing auditory and visual neural brainwave entrainment with biofeedback. This is the first iPhone application to combine three scientifically proven modalities to provide deep relaxation leading to a calmer mind and better sleep.
http://www.purenlp.com/iphone-app/index.html
Or use your iPhone or iTouch and look up keyword Bandler or Mindspa in applications.

Done in conjunction with Hästens, Sweden’s oldest manufacturer of beds, made of natural materials, and NeuroTech, Inc., a privately held company doing research and development in neuroscience for many years, this app is GREAT!! And it's FREE for a very short period of time!

You can also visit Hästens by clicking this link:
http://purenlp.com/hastens/index.html

And you can visit NeuroTech, Inc. by clicking this link:
http://www.purenlp.com/neuro-tec/index.html"

Thanks,
Matt

Tags: Richard Bandler, Mindspa, Hastens, iPhone, NLP

2 Ways to Improve Your Communication Skills Today.

I tell people on my NLP Practitioner trainings that it takes a sufficient amount of "fly time" in the real world outside and after the trainings to "get your wings" or embed the skills. The biggest concern I get from trainees is that they don't intend to see clients so how can they practice the skills? My answer is always that, if you leave your house (and who doesn't? If you have agoraphobia, let me, I can soon sort that out!), you have plenty of opportunity to practice your skills with the people you will interact with, whether that is the person next to you on the bus, or colleagues at work, or the person at the checkout in the supermarket! So, I try and offer suggestions of exercises and experiments that they can do to practice their new skill set.

Two of the most powerful ways to be an excellent communicator is to:

1) Answer a question with another questions.
2) Answer a question with story or metaphor.

So, to become a better communicator instantly (well in a few days) is to answer every (or almost every, don't take the mick!) question with one of those two things. I suggest doing one for a day and then the other next and alternate for a week. So one day answer questions with a question, the next answer questions with a story (don't get too carried away though, you don't want to bore the people!). Do that for a week an notice how much better your ability to communicate and gain rapport with people...

Matt

Tags: nlp practitioner training, NLP, neuro-linguistic programming, rapport, communication