If you're concerned about 'therapy' involving painful explorations of past experiences, or taking long periods of time, you'll be delighted to know that using techniques such as NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming), Hypnosis, and EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) that is generally quite unnecessary.
Much of the work can be done 'content free' using processes that access the experience without pain or distress. Many of my clients are delighted to find that they have spent much of their session comfortably relaxed, even laughing, discovering how easy change can be.
What a relief!
NLP
NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming), offers powerful, gentle tools for personal change. NLP is the study of subjective experience - how you - quite uniquely - create your reality. NLP allows therapist and client to recognise the powerful, subtle processes of thought and language that hold behaviour and beliefs in place. Once known, they can be improved, or even replaced. Positive skills and states of well-being can be enhanced, and used deliberately – feeling good is no longer a matter of luck, but choice.
For example, the way someone imagines themselves can have a profound impact on their self-esteem. An internal image of themselves which is flat and dull, looking miserable, and separate from those around them, can become a self-fulfilling prophecy. Brightening the image, making it glow, creating connections, perhaps making it larger, even adding a cheerful and positive soundtrack,can be the simplest way to improve self-esteem.
The changes can be done conversationally, with questions that create changes in awareness, or with tailored processes in which the client explores and changes the way in which they think.NLP is almost always done with the client fully alert. It can be used to keep an athlete or performer ‘in the zone’, improve confidence and communication, refine a business process, alter a person’s response to a trigger, or just create relaxation at will.
Trauma and phobias are particularly responsive to NLP techniques. You cannot change the past, but you can change your response to it, improving your present and future. You can learn and apply the simple principles of NLP in every area of life, to be more effective in everything you do.
Habits and patterns can be analysed using NLP techniques. Business processes, decision making, sales patterns and design flows can all be discovered, quantified, and taught in useful ways. Not only the conscious, visible elements, but the deep and subtle motivations and processes that occur effortlessly to those with talent and skill.
If someone says they 'just' do anything (useful OR detrimental) it means it's outside their conscious awareness. That's a great time to employ NLP.
HYPNOTHERAPY
Hypnotherapy creates a state of altered awareness, known as trance, in which the sub-conscious mind can be directed to new, healthier habits and responses.
Trance is simply a state in which we are intensely concentrated on something, shutting out most other information temporarily. It occurs naturally when deeply involved in a book or movie, daydreaming, remembering a past event, or enjoying a physical activity to the exclusion of other thoughts and awareness. Deep relaxation is an ideal doorway to trance, and with it access to the unconscious mind.
It is the unconscious mind in which the patterns of belief and habits of behaviour create our daily experience. Once learned thoroughly, everything from walking, stopping automatically at a red light, or catching a ball are available at need, without conscious effort. Our bodies function without our conscious input, while our beliefs and habits directly impact on our well-being.
Rather than getting the conscious mind to use will-power against the powerful automatic processes of the unconscious, hypnosis allows us to work directly with the programmes that make up so much of our life. Often people have outdated beliefs that are no longer useful – limiting ideas about their potential for health, wealth, and loving relationships. These can be adjusted, upgraded, and redirected to healthier options.
Hypnotherapy is closely allied to NLP techniques, and skillful use of NLP language patterns makes this type of changework even more effective.
It is possible to quickly take the mind into a calm, relaxed state, for example by using a guided visualisation. The client creates the experience in their own mind – therefore they remain in charge of their experience. The therapist acts as director of the scene, and can make suggestions. In a state of deep relaxation/trance the unconscious mind can be accessed much more easily, making change possible at such a deep level that it can transform a belief system, enhance the immune system, and radiate confidence and well being from within.
EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique)
also known as TAPPING.
EFT is considered to be an energy therapy. It involves tapping on acupressure points as you talk, or simply think, about whatever you would like to feel better about. This neutralises the emotional response and the physical tension, often within minutes. It lets you change the way you feel about past events, future possibilities and negative beliefs. It can also reduce many physical symptoms and cravings. If you are somewhat sceptical, you might like to know that after the terrible events in Kosovo, many thousands of people, including those in the armed forces, got measurable, rapid relief from their severe trauma with the help of teams of EFT therapists.
Skillful use of NLP language patterns enhances the process, making change easy and simple. The basic tapping patterns are very easily learnt and a valuable skill for dealing with everyday life more gently and happily.
It's also possible, once the negative issues are dealt with, to strengthen positive beliefs and reinforce health and well-being. Tapping only creates positive spirals!