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Neuro-Linguistic programming (NLP) is a controversial approach to psychotherapy and organisational change based on a “a model of interpersonal communication chiefly concerned with the relationship between successful patterns of behaviour and the subjective experiences, underlying them “and “a system of alternative therapy based on this which seeks to educate people in self awareness and effective communication and to change the patterns of mental and emotional behaviour”

The co-founders Richard Bandler and linguist John Grinder, claimed it would be instrumental in “finding ways to help people have better, fuller and richer lives” They coined the title to denote a supposed theoretical connection between neurological processes (‘Neuro’), language (‘linguistic’) and behavioural patterns that have been through learned experience (‘programming’) and that can be organised to achieve specific goals in life.

NLP was originally promoted by the founders Bandler and Grinder in the 1970’s as an effective and rapid form of psychology therapy, capable of addressing the full range of problems which psychologists are likely to encounter, such as phobia’s, depression, habit disorder, psychosomatic illnesses and learning disorders to name but a few. It also espoused the potential for self determination through overcoming learned limitations and emphasised well being and healthy functioning. Later it was promoted as a ‘science of excellence’, derived from the study or ‘modeling’ of how successful or outstanding people in different fields obtain their results. It was claimed that these skills can be learned by anyone to improve their effectiveness both personally and professionally.