Edward Grey

I assume that the author has good intentions in writing this book; I also assume that Linda has accrued experience as a therapist/counsellor and that she has no doubt helped people on their healing journeys.

This book is immature, ill-conceived and clumsy. She holds on to certain words or phrases, reiterating them in a vain attempt to provide some sort of cohesion and illustrate her understanding of key themes in the therapeutic context. I even wonder if English isn't her native language. It reads like a GCSE essay that would probably be awarded a 'D' grade at best.

If this book is an attempt to share the wisdom gained from years of working with people who have come to her for counselling then I'm afraid the book does Linda no favours at all. And this is the moot point: the book MAY be helpful for some who can read the (many) stories that Linda recounts as anecdotes from her practice. It MAY be helpful in this regard, simply because the stories may resonate and create a sense of "I am not alone in my experience - others have also been through what I have been through."

There is absolutely no therapeutic benefit from this book if readers are considering this as a way of helping them through their problems. Most of the 'professional' comments are facile, naïve, condescending, patronising, ill-informed - and on occasion incredibly misleading. Generalisations abound and the lack of depth in exploring "the psychology of sex" (as attested by Helen Cozens MBACP on the back of the book) is palpable. I laughed out loud one minute, cringed the next and often was 'drop-jaw' amazed at the simplicity and naivety of the words I was reading.

For a fuller review, see here: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32848985-under-the-bed?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=4xnoR3mmWU&rank=12

I found myself skim-reading for first few chapters. I guess I was hoping for a book with more depth around this complex and fascinating subject. (I'm always on the look-out for reading material that either puts a very new spin on a subject I'm familiar with or significantly challenges me with new information, research or an unfamiliar topic. This book did none of those things - but it was a good reminder of the basics of NLP and how they can apply to relationship boundaries).

I consider that this book is pitched at those with a basic-middling understanding of NLP. And it does draw upon, with relevance and clear explanation, a number of key NLP constructs including metaprograms, distortion/deletion/generalisation, body-mind connection, perceptual positions, parts.... (with the strong advice: "Do not attempt to do parts work with other people unless you are well trained in counselling and psychotherapy" which I approve of!)

The later chapters also have some useful comments about transference/counter transference within the therapeutic alliance and a helpful chapter illustrating the distinctions and 'types' of relationships that humans have.

There were moments were I felt a little talked at', when Anné was overtly expressing from her 'map'; but by the end I felt that the author was sincere. Anné's style is direct, for sure; but there's no denying her genuine love for people and her commitment to their wellbeing.

In terms of structure, the book is well-organised (if a little too reiterative over some points that Anné clearly regards as most significant); the book includes anecdotes from her own practice and is interspersed with metaphorical stories and occasional suggested step-by-step exercises (although these are limited).

All in all, a solid, easy read that should be recommended reading for all those working in the relationship space, coaches and therapists alike.

The effectiveness of the many audio recordings of hypnotic inductions available is often dependent upon whether you like the sound of the voice guiding you through. Linda Thomson's lilting American accent works for me - it may not for others.

I also believe that each person will respond differently to the distinctions between a permissive and a more directive style. In this regard, I particularly refer to the use of metaphor and imagery - I prefer to be artfully ambiguous, suggesting 'something' is being seen/heard/felt rather than directing my client to my own metaphors. Linda will happily invite the client to imagine water, paths, warm showers etc rather than allow the client to create their own imagery.

All that being said, I like these CDs. Linda's style is a balance of both the permissive, ambiguous and directive. In all cases, the delivery of the words is always well-paced and warm in tone; I don't find anything grating about the way she is working. I would have preferred to have more of a 'U' shaped model in respect of the energy: Linda assumes a very hypnotic style from the very start and maintains this throughout.

Within the body of the text there are plenty of well constructed terms, many of them either suggestive of, or directly referencing, medical matters (as you might expect from such a CD). So, there are references to medications, and medical procedures. There's some helpful myth-busting statements about hypnosis and some excellent post-hypnotic suggestions too.

All in all, if you like pre-recorded hypnotic inductions, this will sit very well alongside the many choices out there. One of my clients used them prior to her recent surgery and reported that it helped keep her calm and clear-headed. So, anecdotally, they work!

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.

This is an excellent book! I refer to it many times and have recommended it to many people.

As well as being beautifully written and excellently referenced (as you would expect from the author), it is also a clever balance between examples of NLPt in action and an honest discourse on how NLPt is a "brief outcome-oriented therapy" as distinct from NLP itself as an "applied psychology". The author has always been particularly alert to the differences between working with clients in a psychotherapeutic setting and within a coaching setting (be it NLP-based coaching or not).

This book achieves exactly what it sets out to achieve (namely, "to consider the relationship between neurolinguistic psychotherapy and psychotherapy in general") - and it gives the reader so much more!

I thoroughly recommend this book to all those interested in NLP and psychotherapy - and how the two are related