NLP and Research

John Marsden

Objectives

1. Summarise NLP research findings2. Critically Evaluate NLP as an

approach to clinical work

Epistemology

What constitutes knowledge?

Research From Related Fields

• Behavioural Science• Clinical Hypnosis• Cognitive Therapy• Neuro Science

Research from the 1980s

• Eye accessing cues• Preferred Representational Systems

VisualAuditoryKinaesthetic

• Sharpley Meta-analysis in 1984 and 1987

The Brooklyn Programme

• Professor Richard Gray• Probation Service in New York• Began 1997• NLP Anchoring and other NLP

techniques• Manual available as a PDF (Moodle)

Post Traumatic Stress

• Ann Dietrich “A Review of Visual/Kinaesthetic Disassociation in the Treatment of Post Traumatic Disorders” in Traumatology

• Richard Bolstad, The RESOLVE model, PTSD in Bosnia (1999) and Samoa (2010)

• Frank Bourke and Richard F. Liotta: Research Program: PTSD Protocol for War Veterans at http://nlprandr.org

Research in Education

Carey, J., Churches, R., Hutchinson, G., Jones, J. and Tosey, P. (2009)

Neuro-linguistic programming and learning: teacher case studies on the impact of NLP in education, Reading: CfBT Education Trust.

NLP with Children and Young People

Lisa Squirrell

Can Neuro Linguistic Programming work with young children who display varying social, emotional and behavioural difficulties?

Current Research in NLP Vol.1 (2008)

NLP With Children with Social, Emotional and Behavioural

Difficulties• Action Research• Qualitative and Quantitative Data• Small sample (n=5) with control group• Positive response to visualisation and language

techniques• Positive response amongst staff at the referral

unit• “The quantitative data showed that the NLP

group had, in almost all areas of learning and behaviour, improved more than the control group”.

Evaluation of NLP in Clinical Work

• Strengths Model (not a deficiency model)

• Systemic• Client Centred• Outcome focused• Create and access internal resources• Content free

Limitations of NLP in Clinical Work

• Poorly defined• Untested• Weak evidence base?

Conclusions

Mick Cooper (2008) Essential Research Findings in Counselling and Psychotherapy, London, Sage and BACP.

“Despite claims it performs ‘therapeutic magic’, a review of the experimental research found that “The basic tenets of NLP have failed to be reliably verified in almost 86 per cent of controlled studies (Sharpley: 1987: 105).”

Sharpley’s Conclusion

... perhaps NLP principles are not amenable to research evaluation.  This does not necessarily reduce NLP to worthlessness for counselling practice.  Rather it puts NLP in the same category as psychoanalysis, that is, with principles not easily demonstrated in laboratory settings but, nevertheless, strongly supported by clinicians in the field.

Big John’s Conclusion?

NLP has yet to be properly tested as a clinical intervention. Promising early research findings, allied studies and clinical experience suggest that NLP may be helpful as an approach.