Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) is the darling theory of life couches and self help gurus everywhere, but is it really as good as it sounds? To mainstream psychotherapy, the answer to that question is a resounding no. To NLP practitioners and many of their patients, the answer is quite the opposite. So what is the truth? Perhaps the truth lies somewhere in the middle.

The core of NLP is that we are responsible for our own bad behavior even if we’re not consciously aware of it. NLP practitioners insist the source of most of our hang ups and psychological problems is hiding in our own minds – subconscious programs that dictate how we feel and react to certain triggers. These programs are believed to be responsible for everything from phobias to depression. NLP practitioners insist by actively listening to a patient’s responses to targeted questions and asking further follow up questions and listening to those responses they will eventually be able to pinpoint the trigger for the negative response. By pinpointing the trigger the practitioner is then able to help the patient change the way they react to that trigger and change the way the patient behaves in response.

It’s a fascinating theory but the problem mainstream therapy seems to have with this particular theory is that there is little hard evidence to back it up. Studies have shown it appears to be effective, but many claim these studies have been flawed and therefore shouldn’t be counted. That doesn’t stop NLP practitioners from implementing the ideology behind NLP when treating patients and the results seem to be overwhelmingly positive.

NLP has become particularly popular in the self-help movement because change isn’t dependant on a therapist or medication, but instead change with NLP is accomplished by the patients themselves. They are taught to identify self-defeating thoughts and self-imposed limitations to further themselves and live their life to the fullest – recognizing and utilizing their full potential. The lack of medication is a particularly appealing idea as many self-help professionals believe as a culture, we are entirely over medicated.

Perhaps this has more to do with why mainstream psychotherapy looks down its nose at NLP and NLP practitioners. Many mainstream psychotherapists push medication on their patients because its much easier to medicate the symptoms than it is to cure the problem. This is not, of course, true in all cases, but sadly, in today’s society, the majority is the rule.

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