What do you get when you combine techniques for personal and interpersonal success, improved self-concept and self esteem, better performance on the job, the ability to relate to the world more effectively, and a quick fix for phobias and allergies? Sounds too good to be true, but neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) promises all of the above.

By definition, NLP studies the structure of how humans think and experience the world. But in the simplest sense, it uses a combination of techniques to help individuals “reprogram” their thinking, communication and behavior patterns.

Think about it like this. Let’s say the brain is a complex computer, running multitudes of functions and programs simultaneously. Everyone’s computer is slightly different, running different programs and assimilating information uniquely. What NLP does is study the individual’s hardware and software, determining how information is processed and what programs are dominating the system. Then, using established techniques, practitioners can help individuals both assimilate information in new ways and change the dominating programs.

“Just like on a computer, in our brains there’s some software that’s useful and some that—though at the time we created it, it served a useful purpose—is now outdated,” says Christian Miller, NLP practitioner in Denver. “For example, smoking could be a program that’s no longer serving the individual and that he or she wants to get rid of.”

The first thing a trained NLP practitioner will do is ask questions, listen to your responses and read body language to find clues as to how you process information. Essentially, everyone processes information through three basic pathways: visual, auditory and kinetic-—that is, seeing, hearing and feeling. The language we use is revealing: for example, simple phrases such as “I hear you” versus “I see what you mean” can indicate how someone processes information.

As he or she listens to your responses, the practitioner will also be watching your eye movement--where you look when you say certain things will give the practitioner an idea of how you process, recall and access information in your brain. For example, looking down and to the left symbolizes internal dialogue--that is, you’re having a conversation with yourself; up and to the left is visual recall, meaning you’re “seeing” the answer, and so forth. A well-trained NLP practitioner can find out a lot about how you process information, communicate and think from a simple face-to-face conversation.

The history of NLP began in the 1970s, when a young mathematician named Richard Bandler was studying the work of famed Gestalt therapist Fritz Perls. He teamed up with linguistics professor John Grinder, Ph.D., and together they began “modeling”--that is, discerning the key elements and processes of the linguistic behavior of successful individuals. Among those they modeled were Perls, renowned hypnotherapist Milton H. Erickson, who was said to affect change in patients unreachable by the rest of the psychiatric community, and Virginia Satir, founder of the Satir model and pioneer in family therapy.

By uncovering the specific methods these successful people used in their interactions with others, Bandler and Grinder were able to create templates and techniques that could be used by anyone to shift their perception enough to become effective and successful in life. For example, suppose at some point in your life someone told you you’re fat; even if you’re not truly overweight, that message becomes part of your programming--even though everyone else says you’re fine. This program is running so well, it’s taking over the entire monitor. The NLP practitioner will help you access the programs that serve you--like those that say “I’m not fat” or even “I look great”--and help you redirect your thinking. This shift in perception, from thinking “I’m fat” to “I look great” leads to greater self-esteem, self-confidence and a generally more successful life.

Since then, NLP has grown out of the academic arena and branched into both the therapeutic and business fields. NLP is commonly used by life coaches to help individuals clear out old, self-destructive programs and make progress towards their dreams and goals. It has also been successful at helping with conditions such as allergies, phobias, bulimia, smoking and other addictions, and relationships. Further, NLP is taught and practiced in the business environment as a tool for better communication and more persuasive sales tactics, and to establish rapport among clients and co-workers.

Ultimately, NLP can help with any mind-based conflict or concern. For example, Miller worked with a woman who had developed an extreme sensitivity to the sounds from her kids’ handheld video games.

“She said the noise from the games was driving her crazy, but that it hadn’t always bothered her,” says Miller. “She had been to an audiologist but there was nothing wrong with her ears.”

In session, Miller helped the woman find a memory in which the sound from the video games didn’t bother her. He then used a technique called anchoring, which allowed her to access that part of the memory (program) at will. They tested their work by turning on the video games right there in session.

“She was just talking normally to me—she was suddenly unaffected by the sound of the games,” Miller says.

The next step was future pacing, where the woman mentally created a scenario in the future in which the issue would arise (that is, her kids would be playing the video games) and then practiced accessing the anchored memory before going home to the real thing.

For most issues and conditions, NLP works quickly. According to Miller, most people should see some results within three sessions. On average, an hour-long session costs about $80.

A complete exploration of NLP, including its applications and techniques, requires not only time but a palate for lofty and complicated linguistic terms such meta-model, sensory acuity and submodality. Many modern NLP organizations will admit that the idea of NLP is simple but has been complicated by the vernacular of linguists. Unless you’re the ultra-brainy type, don’t worry about it. A good practitioner can explain the potentials and processes of NLP in simple terms.

How do you know if you have a good practitioner? Results. And they should happen quickly. If you have a good rapport and you are getting results, you’ve got a good practitioner.