NLP and Coaching for Healthcare Professionals: Developing Expert Practice

Useful and well written

Given the enormous pressure the NHS is under, this book is a useful addition for anyone working in the health service or NHS-related fields.

Overall, the book is an easy read, surely one of the most important aspects of any publication. It blends some core NLP principles and processes with solid comments from a coaching perspective. There are plenty of contextual references that healthcare professionals will recognise and, as such, the book will sit comfortably on the shelves and desks of doctors, nurses et al.

I suggest this is a book mainly pitched at those who have a base-line knowledge of NLP (although the novice will also have no problem following along). For those with more NLP experience, they will find this book a good reminder of some of the basics, including a useful emphasis on goal-setting. The authors have also interspersed their text with anecdotes and stories from those in the healthcare professions who have used NLP to good effect; for some readers, these 'real life' examples will be helpful convincers.

There are also a number of helpful exercises, some of which signpost other disciplines and modalities allied to NLP (such as mindfulness) and the coaching contributions will arguably be the most useful to readers.

I have a couple of minor criticisms; first, the book tends to be a little repetitive. Whilst I appreciate the benefits of repeating key messages, there are moments when I felt the need to skim read and skip on......Second, the tone can sometimes feel a little 'light weight'. Again, this may well be my preference for 'heavier' NLP books these days!

Nevertheless, this is a book full of very sound advice for healthcare professionals in all fields (utilising NLP and Coaching approaches) and, particularly for those with only a basic understanding of NLP, it's a book worth the investment.