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Neuro-linguistic programming

Neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) is an approach to psychotherapy and organizational change 

based on "a model of interpersonal communication chiefly concerned with the relationship 

between successful patterns of behaviour and the subjective experiences (esp. patterns of 

thought) underlying them" and "a system of alternative therapy based on this which seeks to 

educate people in self-awareness and effective communication, and to change their patterns of 

mental and emotional behaviour".[1]

The co-founders, Richard Bandler and linguist John Grinder, believed that NLP would be useful 

in "finding ways to help people have better, fuller and richer lives".[2] They coined the term 

"Neuro-Linguistic Programming" to emphasize their belief in a connection between the 

neurological processes ("neuro"), language ("linguistic") and behavioral patterns that have 

been learned through experience ("programming") and can be organized to achieve specific goals 

in life.[3][4][5]

In early workshops by Bandler and Grinder and in books that followed, it was often claimed[6] 

that through the use of NLP, problems especially phobias could be overcome in a single short 

session whereas traditional therapies would have taken weeks, or even months of regular 

sessions to make progress.[7][8] It was claimed that NLP was capable of addressing the full 

range of problems that psychotherapists are likely to encounter, such as phobias, depression, 

habit disorder, psychosomatic illnesses, and learning disorders.[9] The founders advocated the 

potential for self-determination through overcoming learned limitations[10] and emphasized 

well-being and healthy functioning. Bandler and Grinder claimed that if the effective patterns 

of behaviour of outstanding therapists (and other exceptional communicators) could be modeled 

then these patterns could be acquired by others.[11] NLP has been adopted by private 

psychotherapists worldwide, including hypnotherapists, who undertake training in NLP and apply 

it to their practice. Later, it was promoted as a "science of excellence", derived from the 

study or "modeling"[12] of how successful or outstanding people in different fields obtain 

their results. NLP has gained popularity within management training, life coaching, and the 

self-help industry.