Effective Form Of Psychotherapy

By Isaiah Phillips

Neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) is a method of psychotherapy first promoted in the 1970s based on the idea that a person can greatly improve their quality of life by changing their mental and emotional behavior.

NLP seeks to show patients the importance of self-awareness and communication so they can recognize patterns of behavior that may be adversely effecting their life in ways they may not have considered. It seeks to expose the relationship between patterns of thought and patterns of behavior so the reasons behind those thoughts can be explored.

NLP is based on the theory that most mental disorders often diagnosed by mainstream psychotherapy and then treated with medications are in actuality self-conceived problems. Plainly put, NLP is based on the theory that things previously believed to be out of a patients control are in fact, caused by the way the patient is thinking.

NLP is thought to be able to help patients with a wide-range of conditions including depression, learning disorders, phobias, psychosomatic illnesses and habit disorders. The belief is that these things are learned behaviors, programmed by parents, teachers, friends and even the patient.

While remaining more or less ignored by social sciences and mainstream psychotherapy, NLP has been adopted as a focal point in many private practices and by many hypnotherapists. There is little scientific data to back up the claims of results, but it is still a theory popular in the self-help, life coaching and management training fields.

Beyond the obvious therapeutic applications for NLP, the method has been gaining popularity in the business world because it can greatly improve interpersonal communication skill. This is an invaluable benefit for anyone looking to negotiate a deal or get a promotion.

A key focus of NLP therapy is to build achievable life goals and help the patient work toward them, with importance being placed on the word achievable. The method works with the patient's capabilities and does not seek to have them attempt more than they can handle or accomplish.

NLP claims to be a fast and effective form of psychotherapy that can help patients overcome limitations they have either set on themselves or been taught to set on themselves. Again, although there is little scientific evidence backing up this method, many practitioners swear by it - touting quick results in many forms or mental disorder. Whether or not it is truly effective remains to be seen, but it is an alternative for anyone who has limited success with other forms of therapy and does not want to take medication for a mental illness they are not convinced they have. - 32509

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