Neuro Linguistic Programming Psychotherapy for Improving Emotional State: A Pilot Study

Abstract

This pilot study was conducted for assessing efficacy of Neuro Linguistic Programming Psychotherapy in improving emotional state. NLP psychotherapy techniques used were timeline, anchoring, double dissociation, perceptual positions, reframing, metaphors, strategy change and values elicitation. NLP Psychotherapy session(s) were given to ten participants (N=10) six females and four males. Methods for data collection included personal interviews, participant's experiential report, DASS (Depression Anxiety Stress Scale) and NLP wheel of life scale. Assessment of emotional state change was done on Pre and post therapy scores of DASS (Depression Anxiety Stress Scale) and NLP wheel of life scale along with changes in experiential report of participants before and after therapy session(s). Results obtained by t-tests performed on DASS scores found statistically significant (p<0.001) improvement for all three categories of emotional state i.e. stress, anxiety and depression. Improvement on wheel of life scale score and subjective experience of participants was also reported suggesting that NLP Psychotherapy could improve emotional state in fewer sessions. This pilot study shows positive outcome and also adds to the sporadic literature of NLP psychotherapy as an evidence based study supported by significant statistical findings, subjective experiential improvement in emotional state of participants with up to six months follow up noting stability of resourceful changes attained. Integrated Neuro Linguistic Programming and personal encounter psychotherapy is found useful for making fundamental changes quickly and effectively (Bolstad R, 2002). (Gray R M Liotta R F, 2012) noted long term efficacy, speed of operation and possibility of being run content free of Visual kinesthetic dissociation protocol or rewind technique for Post traumatic stress disorder. (Wake L, Leighton M, 2014) suggests NLP's potential as a therapeutic tool in the treatment of symptoms of anxiety and depression associated with self report of PTSD and observed statistically significant (p<0.001) improvement in candidates' emotional state measured on three DASS (Depression, Anxiety and Stress) categories. Assertiveness skills training program of NLP strategies is reported to be highly effective in reducing state anger in a control investigation, (Tabrizi F, Shafiabadi F, Zahrakar K, 2015) consisting of a group of married women admitted to home health. The term NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming) was coined by Bandler and Grinder, refers to use of language of mind to consistently achieve one's specific and desired outcomes. Neuro-the nervous system (the mind) through which our internal experience is processed through five senses : visual, auditory, kinesthetic, olfactory and gustatory; Linguistic-includes language (verbal and non verbal) through which we communicate with outside and inside world and give meaning like pictures, sounds, feelings, tastes, smells and self talks; Programming-It is the ability to discover and utilize the programs (one's communication to self and others) that we run in our neurological