What are the benefits of NLP Therapy?

When we talk about leadership and personal growth, we can't ignore the wealth of techniques that promise to transform us into better, more effective individuals. There are so many claims out there. But here’s the thing – some, with the right guidance, really do work.

One such approach that's gained traction over the years is NLP coaching. 

We all know that irrespective of the professional landscape, it's not just technical skills that count; the ability to communicate effectively, understand one's own behaviour, and influence others positively is equally crucial. Welcome to NLP.

NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming) offers a suite of techniques that can make you more effective in these softer skills, positioning you as a leader in any workspace. For women in particular, who often face unique challenges in the workplace, these techniques can be especially empowering. From a personal perspective, NLP can arm you with the ability to tap into your inner strength and leverage it to achieve what you want out of life. 

In this article, we'll delve into what NLP therapy is, its techniques, and how it can potentially reshape your leadership persona.

What is NLP therapy?

Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) therapy is an approach to communication, subconscious, personal development, and psychotherapy. 

It is based on the premise that there's a connection between neurological processes, language, and behavioural patterns that have been learned through experience. The therapy suggests that these can be changed to achieve specific goals in life.

How do you determine if you need or want NLP therapy? 

There are many reasons NLP is a point of exploration, most commonly it’s because you’re stuck or emotionally blocked and need help with your subconscious mind to release yourself and move forward. Other excellent benefits include:

Self-awareness and Clarity: Individuals seeking to understand themselves better and gain clarity about their thoughts, feelings, and behaviours.

Communication Skills: For those wanting to enhance their ability to communicate with others effectively, especially in leadership positions.

Changing Limiting Beliefs: When beliefs or past experiences hinder one's growth, NLP provides tools to reframe and transform these hindrances into strengths.

Personal and Professional Growth: Professionals looking for holistic development, be it in personal or professional arenas, can benefit from the insights and growth that NLP provides.

Building Confidence: Historically, societal norms may have placed self-imposed limitations on women. NLP techniques can help rewire these beliefs, enabling women to step into not only leadership roles with confidence and conviction, but also create a shift within themselves which positively affects personal/family life.

Managing Impostor Syndrome: Many female leaders, despite their achievements, grapple with imposter syndrome. NLP can aid in recognising and challenging this, transforming self-doubt into authentic self-assurance.

Effective Conflict Resolution: Improving relationships is one of the most powerful outcomes of NLP whether personally or professionally.

Enhanced Emotional Intelligence: NLP techniques can help hone the skill of emotional intelligence, allowing leaders to empathise, motivate, and inspire their teams better.

Advocacy and Negotiation: Through understanding linguistic patterns and influencing techniques, NLP can empower people to negotiate better and advocate for their ideas, projects, or teams more persuasively.

I’m sure you’ll agree that’s an impressive list of benefits and you’re probably wondering how you can achieve this for yourself. To get epic, long lasting results you’ll need to work with someone directly who is trained and has expertise in this area. Or you could actually train as an NLP practitioner, but this is very labour intensive and only worth doing if you are really willing to commit to it. Otherwise, it’s best to work with someone. Also, NLP courses are very variable and the £20 online ones are not at all good. But there are some good books out there, so if you’re really keen you could look into this!

So let’s start at the beginning, how does NLP therapy work?

Firstly, if you’re imagining lying down on the sofa or being hooked up to some sort of a  machine, then you’re wrong!

You’ll most likely be sat at a desk with your practitioner/coach and will be taken through a series of discussions, exercises and methodologies.

At its core, NLP operates on the principle that our perceptions of the world shape our behaviours and reactions. By changing our perceptions or reframing them, we can modify our reactions and, consequently, our outcomes. 

The first step is usually to identify these perceptions and understand their origin. Some of these things reside deep beneath the surface, so the first challenge can be identifying them in order to make change possible. Again, this is where working with a practitioner is important, because someone very skilled can spot your blindspots for you.

Then, using a series of techniques and strategies, an NLP practitioner will work with the individual to challenge, reshape, or replace these perceptions with ones that are more beneficial. The idea is that by changing our internal dialogue and beliefs, we can influence our external world and results.

In this next section, you’ll discover the four different NLP therapy techniques:

Anchoring: This involves associating a physical touch or gesture with a positive emotional state. Over time, simply using that touch or gesture can evoke emotion.

Sub-modalities: This is a technique to help identify and shift subconscious blocks. A person locates and connects to the physical and mental associations of a particular belief, challenge or block and then changes them in order to shift how it is experienced and ultimately release it completely. 

Perceptual Positions: This technique allows a person to gain a completely new perspective on a difficult relationship, fraught communication or negotiation situation. By unlocking new understanding and insights and seeing things from different angles, they are able to find much more positive outcomes and transform relationships.

Parts Integration: This powerful technique is used to resolve those inner tensions that keep people stuck, because 'a part of me wants this, but a part of me wants that', or 'I really want to do something but I'm worried that it won't work out'. In any situation where a person isn't fully resolved to a course of action, parts integration can help bring together all of their thoughts on the situation and get them into feeling integrated, aligned and completely clear and committed to a way forward.

So you’ve gone through the process, what happens at the end? Do you have an epiphany? 

The outcome of NLP therapy can be transformative for many. The immediate outcome is often a renewed sense of clarity and understanding of one's own thoughts, beliefs, and behaviours. 

This introspection can lead to the identification of areas for growth and strategies to achieve desired changes.

Over time, with consistent application of the techniques learned in NLP therapy, individuals often report improved relationships, better decision-making skills, increased confidence, and greater success in both personal and professional endeavours. This lasting change is rooted in the internal shifts in perceptions and beliefs, leading to more empowered actions.

NLP therapy, like any tool, is as effective as the dedication one brings to it. For professionals and leaders looking for a competitive edge, NLP isn't just a tool for personal development; it's a career enhancer. For those who feel that they’re standing at a crossroads in their life, it can be akin to putting on a pair of glasses and seeing clearly. 

For women, especially, it provides a powerful toolkit to navigate the sometimes tricky waters of professional growth, leadership and relationships and multiple identities such as mother, partner, professional. By internalising and practising these techniques, women can further solidify their positions as influential, effective, and empathetic leaders in their general life.

For anyone who feels they could greatly benefit from NLP therapy or would like to explore and find out more, please don’t hesitate to get in touch and book a call for a chat. I’d love to hear from you. You may also be interested in my programme, 'The Chrysalis’, a life transformation programme which will help you gain clarity and move your life in the direction you wish to lead.