Neuro-Linguistic Programming is a behavioral model as well as a set of techniques and abilities, founded by Richard Bandler and John Grinder in 1976 with the purpose of creating new explicit models of human excellence. O’Connor & Seymour (1993) define NLP as “the art and science of personal efficacy”. The denomination of NLP implies three dimensions:
Neuro: any psychological process has a neurological substrate, our behavior being profoundly connected with the world around us specifically due to our perception of it (the processing of stimuli on a neurological level).
Linguistic: language is being used both internally, in order for us to understand and explain the psychological processes that we are experiencing as well as externally, to communicate the findings to those around.
Programming: stemming from cybernetic sciences and showing that, just like a computer, our brain can be programmed in such a manner to order our thoughts, emotions or the actions that we want to engage in.
By studying the behavior models of people that excel in certain fields, researchers have reached the conclusion that the strategies employed by these true performers in their particular field can also be learned and applied by regular people who want to improve their lives. Thus, they can program their brain to function optimally for their specific purpose, in other words to think positive and to become oriented on solutions rather than on problems and their causes, as they are being advised, for instance, by classical psychology.
Therefore, the purpose of Neuro Linguistic Programming is that of describing the fundamental interaction between mind (neuro) and language (linguistic) and how their reciprocal action is affecting the body and behaviors (programming) (Dilts & DeLozier, 2000).
History
The history of NLP already goes back 40 years, to its beginning in California and the fruitful collaboration between John Grinder and Richard Bandler at the University of Santa Cruz. Both having a keen interest in psychotherapy, they have studied the working methods and strategies of three major therapists from three different schools and orientations (Fritz Perls, Virginia Satir, Milton Eickson) and reached the conclusion that there are similarities between the working methods of the three, even though they were treating different problems in different ways. (Dilts & DeLozier, 2000). Following their research, they set up a new psychological discipline, titled NLP. Shortly, NLP grew in popularity, being successfully applied to domains not having much to do with psychotherapy such as sales, management, education, organizational psychology, negotiations etc.
NLP’s popularity soon grew outside of American borders, being rapidly adopted in Western Europe and becoming massively popular in the UK through the contributions of the anthropologist Bateson, who collaborated in his research with the two founders of NLP. Today, trainings in NLP continue to be hugely popular, even though more and more controversy is arising regarding the validity of the scientific research for this therapeutic method.
The principles of NLP
The map is not the same as the territory. We don’t know the world as it really is, we only have a subjective representation over it. What makes this representation subjective are the filters that separate us from the exterior world: sensations, perceptions, memories, values etc. By changing these filters that are affecting our experience with the world, we can change our general perception of the world, meaning the way we map out reality and, implicitly, our own personal reality.
There are no failures, only feedbacks – any response from the environment to our behavior can be used to regulate our behavior and we don’t have to be negative even when receiving unpleasant answers.
The purpose of communication is the received answer: The communication between two people supposes a battle of the filters that stand between their messages and there is a need for constant sustained effort from both of them to make sure that what’s being communicated by the emitter is what actually reaches the receiver.
If someone can successfully realize something, than so can I… as long as I trust my own resources and I establish goals that I chase systematically.
The mind and the body are parts of the same cybernetic system and the changes in one also determines changes in the other. The harmonizing of the communication of the two parts can lead to a general state of harmony in behavior.
The orientation towards the result, and not the problem – as long as I know where I want to go, how I get there is less important.
Three key techniques stand out in NLP: the clear establishing of objectives, sensory acuteness in order to develop methods of reaching the objectives and flexibility in order to juggle with the various methods, as well as with objectives, if they turn out to be unrealistic (not persisting in the error).
Uses of NLP
NLP can be used as a secondary method in certain therapies (behavioral, as well as humanistic), but also as a self standing therapy, called neuro-linguistic psychotherapy (Bridoux & Weaver, 2000). Researchers in the area of psychotherapy claim that NLP has maximum efficiency and is very fast acting in the treatment of severe problems, such as phobias, depression, learning problems, as well as psychosomatic illnesses (Einspruch & Forman, 1988). In the same time, NLP is used as a technique for improving performance and obtaining excellent results in several domains such as sports, coaching, team building, public speaking, business communication etc.
Friday, April 13, 2012
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Social learning theory
Social learning theory has its roots in Albert Bandura’s experiments and studies and comes to explain the fact that learning is facilitated by social context and by the models presented in that specific social context. Ever since the 1960′s, Bandura discovered that individuals are being subjected to a quick learning process when exposed to a certain type of behavior.
Using a Bobo doll, he managed to demonstrate that children immediately adopt an aggressive behavior when they witness such a behavior in a social context. Thus, a child observing an adult while he/she abuses the doll will repeat the same kind of abuse as soon as the adult clears the room (Bandura, 1969).
Main concepts in social learning theory (Ormrod, 1999):
1) Observation: People learn certain behaviors by observing them manifested by members of their social group and seeing what types of outcomes these behaviors bring.
2) Imitation: In order to develop a certain behavior merely being exposed to it is not sufficient – one needs the intention to realize it in one’s own life, of reproducing it.
3) Cognition: Even though imitating a behavior is important when actually performing it, it’s important to know that the individual has the cognitive capacity of modifying that particular behavior in such a way that it caters to the individual’s particular needs and purposes. In other words, Bandura credits the cognitive nature of the individual who adopts behaviors and is capable of judging them beforehand or modifying them once he/she has adopted them.
4) Reinforcement: In order for a behavior to be considered appropriated it is necessary for the individual to be able to manifest it in contexts that he/she deems as compatible with the specific behavior. Thus, the reinforcement and punishment mechanisms cannot be minimized when it comes to social learning. The reinforcement can be realized by the individual who stands as the model for a certain behavior (an adolescent may start smoking because the “leader” of the group smokes), a third person, not the model itself; the behavior itself (smoking produces a certain pleasure for the sensation seeker or raises self esteem for a submissive teenager, for instance).
5) Modeling: In order for an individual to learn a behavior he/she needs a model to raise his/her awareness on the matter and to elevate his/her interest to learn the specific behavior that the model displays. Even though oftentimes it has been speculated that people learn from human models by way of direct experience, Bandura’s own studies, as well as later studies, have shown that individuals can learn from more abstract or fictional models, such as models being depicted in the media (movies, music, radio, TV, video games etc) (Mae Sincero, 2011).
What types of behavior can be learned by means of social learning?
Even though the majority of Bandura’s studies have treated the way in which people learn violence and aggression through exposure to environmental factors and to models that promote such behaviors, it seems that the learning of a much broader spectrum of behaviors can be explained through social learning:
dieting: media models that support diets and present their thinness as the beauty ideal and standard can influence body image in some viewers. As a logical progression, these viewers will turn to diets, excessive physical exercise etc. in order reach that specific body image (Grabe, 2008)
violence learned through video games (Bushman & Anderson, 2002)
sexism and male chauvinism (Council on Communication and the Media, 2009)
drug use (Robinson, Chen & Killen, 1998)
and also the pleasure for reading and moral behaviors (Ormrod, 1999).
The effects of social learning:
the development of new behaviors
the development of self-efficacy
self-regulation – reaching certain goals through a lesser energetic effort (without soliciting attention and motivation too much, it somehow happens “on its own”)
an easier alternative to learning through operant conditioning
self-improving
Using a Bobo doll, he managed to demonstrate that children immediately adopt an aggressive behavior when they witness such a behavior in a social context. Thus, a child observing an adult while he/she abuses the doll will repeat the same kind of abuse as soon as the adult clears the room (Bandura, 1969).
Main concepts in social learning theory (Ormrod, 1999):
1) Observation: People learn certain behaviors by observing them manifested by members of their social group and seeing what types of outcomes these behaviors bring.
2) Imitation: In order to develop a certain behavior merely being exposed to it is not sufficient – one needs the intention to realize it in one’s own life, of reproducing it.
3) Cognition: Even though imitating a behavior is important when actually performing it, it’s important to know that the individual has the cognitive capacity of modifying that particular behavior in such a way that it caters to the individual’s particular needs and purposes. In other words, Bandura credits the cognitive nature of the individual who adopts behaviors and is capable of judging them beforehand or modifying them once he/she has adopted them.
4) Reinforcement: In order for a behavior to be considered appropriated it is necessary for the individual to be able to manifest it in contexts that he/she deems as compatible with the specific behavior. Thus, the reinforcement and punishment mechanisms cannot be minimized when it comes to social learning. The reinforcement can be realized by the individual who stands as the model for a certain behavior (an adolescent may start smoking because the “leader” of the group smokes), a third person, not the model itself; the behavior itself (smoking produces a certain pleasure for the sensation seeker or raises self esteem for a submissive teenager, for instance).
5) Modeling: In order for an individual to learn a behavior he/she needs a model to raise his/her awareness on the matter and to elevate his/her interest to learn the specific behavior that the model displays. Even though oftentimes it has been speculated that people learn from human models by way of direct experience, Bandura’s own studies, as well as later studies, have shown that individuals can learn from more abstract or fictional models, such as models being depicted in the media (movies, music, radio, TV, video games etc) (Mae Sincero, 2011).
What types of behavior can be learned by means of social learning?
Even though the majority of Bandura’s studies have treated the way in which people learn violence and aggression through exposure to environmental factors and to models that promote such behaviors, it seems that the learning of a much broader spectrum of behaviors can be explained through social learning:
dieting: media models that support diets and present their thinness as the beauty ideal and standard can influence body image in some viewers. As a logical progression, these viewers will turn to diets, excessive physical exercise etc. in order reach that specific body image (Grabe, 2008)
violence learned through video games (Bushman & Anderson, 2002)
sexism and male chauvinism (Council on Communication and the Media, 2009)
drug use (Robinson, Chen & Killen, 1998)
and also the pleasure for reading and moral behaviors (Ormrod, 1999).
The effects of social learning:
the development of new behaviors
the development of self-efficacy
self-regulation – reaching certain goals through a lesser energetic effort (without soliciting attention and motivation too much, it somehow happens “on its own”)
an easier alternative to learning through operant conditioning
self-improving
Harley Street Psychotherapists Provide Effective Treatment For Depression.
Central London, UK – April 12, 2011 – Want to beat your severe anxiety and depression? Every single person experiences negative, irrational thoughts to some degree. But what varies from person to person is - the frequency and the intensity of these thoughts. Highly negative and irrational thoughts can cause depression and destroy your life. Harley Street Psychotherapists bring Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), a fairly simple process that can transform the way you think and bring you out of your depression.
“My therapist was an angel. He told me that I was suffering from anxiety and depression and that it was very treatable. I thought that he was insane. It just could not be that simple or logical. I had been depressed and suicidal forever. Things had gotten so bad that sometimes I lost touch with reality. When he told me that I could get better, it was only a matter of changing my thought processes,” said a client of Harley Street Psychotherapists.
Harley Street Psychotherapists utilize dynamic psychotherapy techniques to treat many problems like lose weight permanently, give up smoking forever, reduce high stress levels, stop panic attacks and anxiety, deal with depression, alleviate lifestyle stress, build greater confidence, handle relationship problems, cope with work difficulties, nerves before exams, tests, overcome difficulties generally, treat physical stress-linked symptoms, agoraphobia, insomnia, burnout, depression and more..
“With time, patience, and practice it gets easier and easier. One day you will wake up and find yourself automatically changing your NI thoughts into positive, rational ones. You will have taken back control of your mind. It really is that simple. Most people have no idea what an impact the human mind has. We cannot conceive that negative thought processes are capable of ruining our lives, our spirits, and our bodies — but they are,” says Dr. Philippe Jacquet (MA, UKCP, HPC, BAAT), founder of Harley Street Psychotherapists.
Get Back Your Peace of Mind
Psychotherapy has been recognised for a great many years as being the single most effective way to treat depression. Based on the principle of identifying and understanding underlying causes and triggers, it focuses on developing greater self-awareness and on discovering more effective ways to deal with problems and difficult situations, as well as on developing healthier and more productive relationships. Armed with these tools, the sufferer is then able to identify unproductive or harmful thought processes or behaviours at an early stage and deal with them before they are able to spiral out of control.
Harley Street Psychotherapists Can Help You
True expertise does not just come from training and the award of qualifications, but additionally from years of practical experience in the fields of psychotherapy and counselling. Whilst understanding the theory is, of course, essential, it is the considerable experience which our renowned professional therapists have to offer which enables them to assess and treat our patients accurately and effectively and help them to achieve long-term improvements to their lives.
Harley Street Psychotherapists have worked on a number of successful cases in Central London and London. If you or any of your family/friends are suffering from depression, contact Harley Street Psychotherapists to start the treatment today.
About Harley Street Psychotherapists: A team of highly trained and qualified psychotherapists conducting individual and group therapy sessions in Central London. Offer diverse experience in in-patient and out-patient settings within psychiatric, mental health and rehabilitative units, as well as specialist expertise in the treatment of addictions, eating disorders and dual diagnosis. Use proven patient care, facilities and staff management skills to run successful private practices in Harley Street.
For more information, visit: http://www.harleystreet-psychotherapist.co.uk/
“My therapist was an angel. He told me that I was suffering from anxiety and depression and that it was very treatable. I thought that he was insane. It just could not be that simple or logical. I had been depressed and suicidal forever. Things had gotten so bad that sometimes I lost touch with reality. When he told me that I could get better, it was only a matter of changing my thought processes,” said a client of Harley Street Psychotherapists.
Harley Street Psychotherapists utilize dynamic psychotherapy techniques to treat many problems like lose weight permanently, give up smoking forever, reduce high stress levels, stop panic attacks and anxiety, deal with depression, alleviate lifestyle stress, build greater confidence, handle relationship problems, cope with work difficulties, nerves before exams, tests, overcome difficulties generally, treat physical stress-linked symptoms, agoraphobia, insomnia, burnout, depression and more..
“With time, patience, and practice it gets easier and easier. One day you will wake up and find yourself automatically changing your NI thoughts into positive, rational ones. You will have taken back control of your mind. It really is that simple. Most people have no idea what an impact the human mind has. We cannot conceive that negative thought processes are capable of ruining our lives, our spirits, and our bodies — but they are,” says Dr. Philippe Jacquet (MA, UKCP, HPC, BAAT), founder of Harley Street Psychotherapists.
Get Back Your Peace of Mind
Psychotherapy has been recognised for a great many years as being the single most effective way to treat depression. Based on the principle of identifying and understanding underlying causes and triggers, it focuses on developing greater self-awareness and on discovering more effective ways to deal with problems and difficult situations, as well as on developing healthier and more productive relationships. Armed with these tools, the sufferer is then able to identify unproductive or harmful thought processes or behaviours at an early stage and deal with them before they are able to spiral out of control.
Harley Street Psychotherapists Can Help You
True expertise does not just come from training and the award of qualifications, but additionally from years of practical experience in the fields of psychotherapy and counselling. Whilst understanding the theory is, of course, essential, it is the considerable experience which our renowned professional therapists have to offer which enables them to assess and treat our patients accurately and effectively and help them to achieve long-term improvements to their lives.
Harley Street Psychotherapists have worked on a number of successful cases in Central London and London. If you or any of your family/friends are suffering from depression, contact Harley Street Psychotherapists to start the treatment today.
About Harley Street Psychotherapists: A team of highly trained and qualified psychotherapists conducting individual and group therapy sessions in Central London. Offer diverse experience in in-patient and out-patient settings within psychiatric, mental health and rehabilitative units, as well as specialist expertise in the treatment of addictions, eating disorders and dual diagnosis. Use proven patient care, facilities and staff management skills to run successful private practices in Harley Street.
For more information, visit: http://www.harleystreet-psychotherapist.co.uk/
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Harley Street Psychotherapists Bring Lasting Benefits through Psychotherapy
Central London, UK – April 11, 2011 – Can psychotherapy save your life? There are a lot of conflicting opinions on the validity of psychotherapy techniques as a formal treatment of a problem. However, scientific studies appear to have fallen firmly in the camp of psychotherapy not only being a legitimate form of treatment but also a highly effective one.
Harley Street Psychotherapists utilize dynamic psychotherapy techniques to treat many problems like lose weight permanently, give up smoking forever, reduce high stress levels, stop panic attacks and anxiety, deal with depression, alleviate lifestyle stress, build greater confidence, handle relationship problems, cope with work difficulties, nerves before exams, tests, overcome difficulties generally, treat physical stress-linked symptoms, agoraphobia, insomnia, burnout, depression and more..
“All types of psychotherapy are very much dependent upon communication, but at certain times in their lives, many people find themselves overwhelmed by emotions which they find too painful to explore through verbal communication alone. In such cases as these, our trained and qualified therapists use different forms of psychotherapy to assist in the communication and healing process,” says Dr. Philippe Jacquet (MA, UKCP, HPC, BAAT), founder of Harley Street Psychotherapists.
Psychotherapy Can Change Your Life
Psychotherapy is a powerful and effective method of discarding things you don't want in your life and identifying the things you want to achieve. That's why the simplest changes, once explained, can make a massive difference and turn your life around.
Harley Street Psychotherapists provide quality caring service to clients, especially to those who find it extremely difficult to go out and see a counsellor or therapist face to face due to various reasons ranging from depression, fatigue syndrome, feeling of guilt, social anxiety, anxiety around confidentiality, nervousness, etc.
Emotional or psychological distress, the thoughts, feelings and behaviours which develop as a result of distress and the unhealthy coping mechanisms which are often adopted by sufferers can lead to a variety of conditions for which psychotherapy is a highly effective treatment. Harley Street Psychotherapists collaborate with the patients to ensure that they understand their distress and provide a long term solution to their problem.
Harley Street Psychotherapists: Many Satisfied Clients & Proven Results
Harley Street Psychotherapists have been serving the clients from across the world. They have worked on a number of successful cases in Central London and London and have significantly impacted lives of many people worldwide. Their team comprises some of the most highly-trained and qualified counsellors and psychotherapists in the UK and Europe. Each one is greatly respected in his or her field and offers the highest professional reputation.
Get The Right Treatment to Cure Your Problems
Choosing the right psychotherapist or counsellor is crucial in determining the effectiveness of treatment for emotional and psychological problems. Not only is the skill and experience of the practitioner vitally important, but because the issues which psychotherapeutic treatment addresses are often highly sensitive and personally distressing, his patience, understanding and integrity are also key to developing the trust which is required for progress to be made. So, make sure you pick the right counsellor for your treatment today!
About Harley Street Psychotherapists: A team of highly trained and qualified psychotherapists conducting individual and group therapy sessions in Central London. Offer diverse experience in in-patient and out-patient settings within psychiatric, mental health and rehabilitative units, as well as specialist expertise in the treatment of addictions, eating disorders and dual diagnosis. Use proven patient care, facilities and staff management skills to run successful private practices in Harley Street.
For more information, visit: http://www.harleystreet-psychotherapist.co.uk/
Harley Street Psychotherapists utilize dynamic psychotherapy techniques to treat many problems like lose weight permanently, give up smoking forever, reduce high stress levels, stop panic attacks and anxiety, deal with depression, alleviate lifestyle stress, build greater confidence, handle relationship problems, cope with work difficulties, nerves before exams, tests, overcome difficulties generally, treat physical stress-linked symptoms, agoraphobia, insomnia, burnout, depression and more..
“All types of psychotherapy are very much dependent upon communication, but at certain times in their lives, many people find themselves overwhelmed by emotions which they find too painful to explore through verbal communication alone. In such cases as these, our trained and qualified therapists use different forms of psychotherapy to assist in the communication and healing process,” says Dr. Philippe Jacquet (MA, UKCP, HPC, BAAT), founder of Harley Street Psychotherapists.
Psychotherapy Can Change Your Life
Psychotherapy is a powerful and effective method of discarding things you don't want in your life and identifying the things you want to achieve. That's why the simplest changes, once explained, can make a massive difference and turn your life around.
Harley Street Psychotherapists provide quality caring service to clients, especially to those who find it extremely difficult to go out and see a counsellor or therapist face to face due to various reasons ranging from depression, fatigue syndrome, feeling of guilt, social anxiety, anxiety around confidentiality, nervousness, etc.
Emotional or psychological distress, the thoughts, feelings and behaviours which develop as a result of distress and the unhealthy coping mechanisms which are often adopted by sufferers can lead to a variety of conditions for which psychotherapy is a highly effective treatment. Harley Street Psychotherapists collaborate with the patients to ensure that they understand their distress and provide a long term solution to their problem.
Harley Street Psychotherapists: Many Satisfied Clients & Proven Results
Harley Street Psychotherapists have been serving the clients from across the world. They have worked on a number of successful cases in Central London and London and have significantly impacted lives of many people worldwide. Their team comprises some of the most highly-trained and qualified counsellors and psychotherapists in the UK and Europe. Each one is greatly respected in his or her field and offers the highest professional reputation.
Get The Right Treatment to Cure Your Problems
Choosing the right psychotherapist or counsellor is crucial in determining the effectiveness of treatment for emotional and psychological problems. Not only is the skill and experience of the practitioner vitally important, but because the issues which psychotherapeutic treatment addresses are often highly sensitive and personally distressing, his patience, understanding and integrity are also key to developing the trust which is required for progress to be made. So, make sure you pick the right counsellor for your treatment today!
About Harley Street Psychotherapists: A team of highly trained and qualified psychotherapists conducting individual and group therapy sessions in Central London. Offer diverse experience in in-patient and out-patient settings within psychiatric, mental health and rehabilitative units, as well as specialist expertise in the treatment of addictions, eating disorders and dual diagnosis. Use proven patient care, facilities and staff management skills to run successful private practices in Harley Street.
For more information, visit: http://www.harleystreet-psychotherapist.co.uk/
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