Neuro-linguistic programming, or NLP, is an approach to personal change that looks at the connection between the mind (neuro), language (linguistic) and the patterns of thought and behavior we learn over time (programming). Its tools help people notice the stories and habits that keep them stuck, and practice more helpful ones.
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What the name means
- Neuro: how we take in the world through our senses and make sense of it.
- Linguistic: the words we use, out loud and in our own heads, and how they shape our experience.
- Programming: the habits of thought and behavior we have learned, often without realizing it, and that can be changed.
Where it came from
NLP was developed in the 1970s by Richard Bandler and John Grinder, who studied how skilled therapists and communicators helped people change. It draws on ideas from hypnotherapy and communication, which is one reason it pairs naturally with relaxation and hypnosis.
How NLP tools are used
NLP techniques often involve noticing your inner dialogue, reframing a situation so it can be seen in a new light, and rehearsing calm, confident responses before you need them. When stress has you stuck in fight or flight, changing the story you tell yourself can help the body follow.
A note on evidence
Many people find NLP techniques useful for reflection and personal growth, but scientific research on NLP is limited and mixed. It is a personal-development approach, not a medical or mental health treatment.