What NLP is not...

To understand what NLP is, it may be useful to understand something about what NLP is not.

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What NLP is not...

We frequently get asked “what is NLP?” We want to give you a crystal clear picture of what it is, and to do this, it may be useful to understand something about what NLP is not.

Because many of the original NLP models derived from modelling therapists such as Fritz Perls, Virginia Satir and Milton Erickson, NLP can be perceived as a therapy. 

NLP is often referred to as a ‘therapy’, however, this is usually in the ‘loosest’ sense of the word – in the same way we may refer to shopping as retail 'therapy' or a gong bath as sound 'therapy'.  

To be absolutely clear, NLP is not usually considered to be a therapy when considering it alongside the more traditional thereapies such as:

  • Psychotherapy
  • Psychology
  • Psychoanalysis
  • Counselling
  • Hypnotherapy
  • Clinical Therapy
  • Pseudoscience!

Neurolinguistic psychotherapy (NLPt) is different to NLP and therapists who specialise in this approach are registered with NLPtCA, who are an accrediting body for UKCP (UK Council for Psychotherapy). An NLP Therapist will have had a minimum of 4 years clinical training.

An NLP professional is not a therapist unless they also have specific qualifications in any of these fields in addition to their NLP. When they do, they will use their NLP to enhance and complement their therapeutic qualifications.