Having it all with Neuro Linguistic Programming

My friend Sandra sighed.

• "My audition is on Sunday, arrgghh!!"
  
• "so why go?" I asked.
  
• "Because I want to sing!" She laughed, "I know I'm crazy!"
  

Neuro linguistic programming NLP is perfect for these kind of inner debates. It offers several techniques to help us negotiate with ourselves and find the perfect answer to these types of dilemmas.

The Visual Squash pattern of NLP can be used to help us help our clients get what they really want, and make decisions which are fully aligned with their desires.

1. The Visual Squash first takes the two separate “parts” of us that want two different outcomes
   
2. Secondly we visualize images (in the visual representational system) to represent each of these parts. These are normally an image of the part of me that wants the first outcome and an image of the part of me that wants the second.
   
3. We hold each image in one of our two hands
   
4. Ask the image or part on your right hand what it wants for you, or what its positive intention is? By speaking we bring in our self-talk or inner voice, the so-called auditory digital representational system of NLP.
   
5. We continue to ask for higher and higher positive intentions for the part. Perhaps the pleasure brings me joy, and the joy brings me peace.
   
6. Turn to the other hand and ask that part for it positive intention. Continue to ask until you find the highest positive intention.
   
7. As we continue the exercise we may want to use other NLP techniques such as association, perceptual positions etc to build rapport between the “parts”
   
8. As we continue the exercise we often see the client's hands begin to move together as the two parts become closer in intention.
   
9. We can then encourage this new part to be brought back into the body and an inner integration can be achieved.
   

The NLP coach requires good hypnosis skills to fully involve the client's unconscious mind in this highly symbolic process.

That is why here on our NLP Training in New York, we teach what we call In-Depth NLP. In-Depth NLP uses principles of hypnosis to fully engage the unconscious mind in NLP exercises. We teach In-Depth NLP with a certified hypnosis trainer, to ensure that hypnotic principles are used.

Because we are relying on the client's unconscious mind, we want the client to be able to access their unconscious resources. We do this through trance induction.

Using arm catalepsy or arm levitation (or both) as the hypnotic induction already transfers control of the arm(s) to the unconscious mind, in hypnosis. It is therefore a small step, once hypnotic trance is induced, to suggest to the unconscious mind that the arms can and will move hypnotically, as integration takes place.

The NLP coach will notice from the movement of the arms when they are actually being controlled by the unconscious mind, as the movements become more jerky.

These are the principles of In-Depth NLP; to fully and completely engage the unconscious mind in the change process. By doing so, we generate change that is more compelling than exercises where the conscious mind has more control.

Take our NLP course in New York to fully learn the Visual Squash pattern.

Shawn Carson is an certified NLP trainer in new York City. Call for training, hypnosis, coaching. 212 714 3574, www.nlptrainingewyork.com, iphnewyork@aol.com