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FAQ About NLP
"The map is not the territory"

What is NLP?
Does NLP really work? Has it been scientifically validated?
Isn't NLP really just hypnosis?
Can I use NLP on myself?
What are the presuppositions of NLP?

What is NLP?
NLP (NeuroLinguistic Programming) is a constantly evolving set of models, presuppositions, patterns, techniques, and observation-based theories resulting from the study of the structure of subjective experience, behavior and communication. Beyond understanding, NLP seeks to enable remedial and generative change quickly and ecologically.

Does NLP really work? Has it been scientifically validated?
It's difficult to prove that something doesn't work or doesn't exist. (e.g. Smoking has not yet been "scientifically proved" to cause cancer.) There is massive anecdotal evidence that NLP works. Few studies have been done on particular aspects of NLP with mixed results.

Isn't NLP really just hypnosis?
No. NLP is not *just* hypnosis. Milton Erickson was a strong influence on NLP's founders, but NLP includes aspects of many other disciplines as well.

Can I use NLP on myself?
Yes. Many people use NLP as a form of self development.

What are the presuppositions of NLP?

Here are some of them:

No one is wrong or broken. People work perfectly to accomplish what they are
currently accomplishing.

People already have all the resources they need.

Behind every behavior is a positive intention.

Every behavior is useful in some context.

The meaning of a communication is the response you get.

If you aren't getting the response you want, do *something* different.

There is no such thing as failure. There is only feedback.

In any system, the element with the most flexibility exerts the most influence.

The map is not the territory.