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NLP is an art and a science. It is based
on the idea that the sensory information
around us is translated into thoughts and
ideas, which affect our state, physiology
and behaviour and therefore our results. Our
words also affect our experience and the
experience of others. NLP teaches us how to
use communication more effectively. NLP also
tells us that we code or represent
information to ourselves in certain ways.
How we do code information varies between
events we perceive as positive and negative.
NLP teaches specific strategies and
techniques that we can learn in order to
represent this information differently to
produce better results. These strategies are
used at my NLP, CBT and Hypnotherapy
practice in Hertfordshire.
The NLP communication model explains
clearly how we process and use information
and how this affects our state, physiology
and behaviour. This is why it is a good
starting point for therapy and I will always
explain it to clients attending their first
session of CBT, NLP or Hypnotherapy, in
Hertfordshire. It is really important for
clients to understand this model in order to
be able to make changes to how they view
their world.
What we know is that every second we are
bombarded by sensory feedback (an estimated
2 million bits of information every second)
from our 5 senses Visual (sight), Auditory
(hearing), Kinaesthetic (feeling &
touch), Olfactory (smelling) and Gustatory
(tasting). In any given moment we are
selective as to what information we pay
attention to because of course we cannot
possibly hope to process all of the
information. Memory theorists suggest we can
handle or remember about 7 new bits of
information at once.
This means that we filter the 2 million
bits of information into about 7 bits. The
way we do this is by deleting, distorting or
generalizing. Deletion means we do not
attend to information that is not relevant
in the moment, distortion means we adapt the
information to make it fit with what we
believe or are on the look-out for,
generalization helps us to relate new
information to what we already know. These
three processes are crucial, as they prevent
us from being overloaded with information
and allow us to function.
However, what this also means is that we
do not have the full picture because we have
ignored or changed information during the
filtering process. Using the 7 bits of
information that have filtered we recreate
the outside event inside our mind. This is
called an internal representation. This mean
that what we represent to ourselves inside
our minds is never true to what is actually
happening in the event
Our internal representations are a
re-presentation of the original information
after filtering. Because the information we
take in is via our 5 senses, our internal
representations are made up of thoughts,
feelings, sounds, pictures, smell and
tastes. Importantly, the way we represent or
code information in our internal
representation affects how we feel, which in
turn affects our physiology and behavior.
What we know is that happy people tend to
filter and represent information differently
to depressed or anxious people. More
importantly via cognitive therapy such as
NLP or hypnotherapy, Herts, people
experiencing mental distress can learn to
filter in a way that allows refreshed
perspectives and a different emotional
experience. |
