When asked, “Does NLP work for anxiety?”, a comprehensive response would involve discussing the principles of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), its approach to anxiety, and how an anxiety coach might use it with clients.
NLP is based on the idea that each person’s experience has a unique structure and that by understanding how people process information, it’s possible to change and improve their mental state and behaviours. NLP suggests that behaviours and mental states can be improved by using specific language that affects a person’s mental state. It also proposes that individuals have a preferred mode of processing information, be it visual, auditory or kinesthetic.
NLP views anxiety as a learned response, a skill that the mind has developed. From this perspective, anxiety is a sign that the mind is able to quickly adapt to situations and imagine potential outcomes. Rather than seeing anxiety as a problem, NLP reframes it as a unique ability, requiring creativity, energy and imagination. This view is empowering for people with anxiety, since it acknowledges that problems can be assets.
Anxiety is frequently associated with negative thought patterns and a feeling of powerlessness. NLP aims to give people back control of their state of mind and enables them to choose which state of mind they want to embody. NLP can help people to see that there is more than one choice available, and it enables them to stop fighting their anxiety.
However, NLP is not considered an instant cure for anxiety and may not work for everyone. While it aims to address the root causes of anxiety, rather than just the symptoms, it may not be as effective as other methods for all individuals. It is also worth noting that for some clients, attempting to change or control their thoughts and feelings may be a barrier to recovery.
How an Anxiety Coach Uses NLP
An anxiety coach is likely to use NLP in several ways when working with clients:
- Identifying Triggers: An NLP coach will assist the client to recognise the triggers that initiate their anxiety. This can be done by exploring their thought patterns and sensory experiences. The coach will help the client to examine the specific circumstances, thoughts, and feelings that lead to anxiety.
- Reframing Anxiety: A key aspect of NLP is to reframe anxiety as a natural human response and a learned skill. This involves helping the client change their perspective on anxiety, acknowledging it as a sign of their mind’s adaptability and creativity.
- Accessing Solutions: NLP techniques will help clients to focus on solutions, rather than the fear or anxiety. The coach will help the client to envision their ideal outcome and use this to guide their actions and thoughts.
- Setting Relaxation Anchors: NLP coaches often use techniques to establish anchors that can trigger a relaxed state. These anchors can be visual, auditory, or kinesthetic cues, which the client can access when feeling anxious.
- Altering Submodalities: NLP works to alter the submodalities of a client’s experiences. Submodalities are the qualities of a person’s internal representations (such as brightness, colour, and size of mental images) and by changing these submodalities, they can change their emotional response.
- Timeline Therapy: A coach may use a timeline to explore past memories and learned behaviours. This helps to work with the client’s subconscious to alter their understanding of the past, so it no longer triggers anxiety.
- Establishing Rapport: Rapport is essential in NLP, and coaches will work to establish this by mirroring body language, matching breathing patterns, or other methods. This enables the client to feel comfortable with the coach and the therapeutic process.
- Using Language of Suggestion: NLP uses the language of suggestion as opposed to command language, so that a client does not feel that they are being told what to do. This enables them to take control of their own process.
- Focus on Outcomes: Rather than focusing on problems, an NLP practitioner focuses on what a client wants to achieve. They will explore the client’s desired state in the same detail as their present state.
Summary
NLP offers a unique approach to anxiety by reframing it as a learned skill and a sign of adaptability, and by emphasising that clients can have agency over their own state of mind. An NLP coach uses a variety of techniques to help clients manage their anxiety, including identifying triggers, reframing beliefs, creating anchors, and altering submodalities. NLP is based on the idea that by understanding how someone organises and processes information, it is possible to change behaviours and mental states. While it is not a guaranteed cure, it can be a useful tool in managing anxiety when combined with other methods, and it enables clients to regain agency and control over their own minds.
Tags
NLP, Neuro-Linguistic Programming, anxiety, anxiety coach, triggers, reframing, relaxation, submodalities, timeline, rapport, language of suggestion, outcomes.