NLP and "seeing pictures"

I Can't see pictures?

When I was assisting on Dr Richard Bandler’s London seminars, I could guarantee that during some of the NLP exercises at least five delegates would voice the immortal phrase, “I can’t see pictures!”

The use of semantics and the power of suggestion

On one occasion I worked with a delegate during a seminar who insisted that although he couldn’t see pictures, he could effortlessly describe the position of all his furniture and décor throughout his home! He described this process as his ability to obtain “visual representations!” We therefore proceeded to complete the exercises from that part of the seminar as I rephrased my questions to instead ask him about his “visual representations”

When someone makes the statement “I can’t see pictures”, this is of course a generalisation, which they are feeding back from their own unique perspective (no pun intended!). Often they will have some sense of visual location, but their pictures may “not yet” be in focus.

Many people will indicate that they can “imagine” seeing something as opposed to “seeing something”, if you ask them to! The use of language therefore plays a key part in how our attention is directed and when working with someone it’s useful to listen to their own language patterns and phrasing to facilitate easy communication.

Turning down the volume!

Many people will be so preoccupied in talking to themselves that they are literally too distracted by their own thoughts to really notice what is occurring in their visual medium. I remember once suggesting that a delegate turn down the volume of their internal dialogue to notice how this affected their ability to see their own pictures. In just a few seconds he began to notice how his pictures began to be more in focus, by this one simple adjustment. Of course as previously mentioned the phrasing of any questioning can be crucial as some people would consider “hearing voices” as being a sign of insanity, whereas thinking to themselves or talking to themselves could be seen in an entirely different way.

On another occasion by muting the internal dialogue, a delegate discovered that their visual representations became more noticeable. Previously they had been so “distracted” by their own self-talk that they were not still and composed enough to see what was there.

Check the breathing and begin to relax…

Another factor in improving the ability to see pictures is to explore a person’s breathing patterns. One of the most effective ways to change a person’s states is to change these patterns. The rate that people breathe is a major factor in determining the manner and rate in how they think. I have noticed from 25 years of teaching meditative systems, that even the simplest of meditations where a person pays more attention to their rate of breathing, will produce an increased sense of relaxation. As people relax more, they develop a greater ability to see pictures. More advanced systems of meditation can develop extraordinary sensory acuity both in the visual and auditory cortex’s.

Using geometrical shapes to improve concentration and noticing

Another technique that can help in accessing pictures is to begin to develop an ability to differentiate between different colours in different geometrical shapes. I have already outlined some of these exercises in the article on colour on this site. By focussing on a red triangle externally and then practising representing the same image internally, visual acuity can be developed. A more advanced way of doing this is in using correctly constructed mandalas that are designed to use the science of colour and geometry to generate specific altered states.


Diet, what diet?

A deficiency of minerals or vitamins can affect concentration and the ability to access pictures. For example a deficiency of manganese will severely inhibit the ability to visualise and fully use the visual representation system. Also particular stimulants will produce their own “altered states” although perhaps not in a manner that is useful to generate this greater ability to see pictures!

I remember dealing with a client on a Paul McKenna seminar, who anxiously commented that, he couldn’t see pictures and who seemed to me to be quite hyperactive. I subsequently discovered that by 10am that morning, he had already drunk three espresso coffees and smoked four cigarettes, creating a wonderful state of being completely “wired!” As he began to relax more and drink some water, (introducing some much needed oxygen into his system), he began to see his pictures more clearly.

Pick a picture, any picture, but make it a memorable one!

We know from NLP that people unconsciously delete, generalise and distort information. For many (except perhaps some accountants) the image of completing a tax return will produce a very different dynamic to recalling the time when you first kissed your first girlfriend or boyfriend. If I am working with someone in improving visual acuity I will always ask him or her to pick an event or person that has a strong positive association! I remember Dr Bandler asking a delegate who commented that he couldn’t see pictures to “imagine sucking on his girlfriend’s tit” (his phrasing, not mine!) which certainly produced a noticeable change of state both in the subject and those watching!

If all else fails, its time to go into deep trance…

Sometimes if other approaches don’t produce the appropriate result, its easier to take the person into a deep trance and ask their unconscious what would be needed in order for them to make whatever changes seem most appropriate to improve visual acuity. This can be done directly or through metaphor with careful attention to voice tone, and mirroring the person’s own representative visual language.

Finally in my experience its not that people “can’t see pictures,” it’s just that they are more used to using other representational systems! Now, do you “see my point?”

The audio version of this can be found at www.nlpmp3.com

Richard Bandler, John LaValle, Paul McKenna, Nick Kemp, Frank Farrelly, who's next?

So far from the world of NLP we have numerous unedited interviews with Richard Bandler, John LaValle, Paul McKenna, Nick Kemp, Michel Neill, Michael Breen, Joseph Riggio, Andrew T Austin, Sue Knight as well as main speakers at the NLP IASH 2008 Conference

So who else would you like to see interviewed from the world of NLP?

Diversity in NLP

When I set up www.nlpmp3.com it would have been easy to have simply interviewed the Society of NLP trainers and personalities I already knew. Instead I decided to gather together a much wider range of views from different schools of NLP, so the site has become unique in what it offers.

I am not a fan of the territorial style of NLP where people are thrown off newsgroups for simply having a different view or where people value the personality of the trainer above real learning. Many of the most skilled individuals I have interviewed do not have grand titles and don't even formally teach NLP, but rather use the skills to really help others. The recent additions to the site are a great example of this. These days I would much rather spend aelle day with Richard Gray than someone teaching their take on NLP, as there is no substitute for real experience!

Bandler and Grinder modelled a wide range of therapists, who were highly effective, but worked in different ways. The NLPmp3 site reflects this kind of diversity and many of the NLP trainers would probably not agree even on what NLP is, but crucially te public can have access to free unedited information and make their own minds up. Others have attempted to imitate NLPmp3, but none have produced such a diversity and I am grateful for all those thousands who continue to support this facility!

4 New exclusive downloads now online!

We have just added 4 new FREE NLP interview downloads now at the site, which are only avaliable from www.NLPmp3.com site the first, best and original site for NLP audio interviews.
NLPmp3 is committed to bringing you news from specialists from all schools of NLP and all interview downloads are totally FREE. The latest 4 downloads are from individuals with decades of experience in the field, making them the true therapeutic, health
and education specialists in the field of NLP.

NLP and Addictions by Richard Gray
Dr. Gray is a regular workshop presenter for the National Association of Social Workers.He has made presentations for the The Dr. Lonnie E. Mitchell National HBCU Substance Abuse Conference at Howard University; Broome County Community College and The University of Binghamton, Binghamton, NY; Brookdale Community College, Lincroft, NJ; the Veterans Resource Center in Brooklyn, NY; The Richmond County Mental Health Association; and
the New York Open Center
Here he talks about his work in the field of addictions

NLP in Education and working with ADD by Don Blackerby
In 1981, Don Blackerby established SUCCESS SKILLS, a training and consulting firm in Oklahoma, USA. He established SUCCESS SKILLS in order to allow him to expand Neuro-Linguistic
Programming (NLP) into new applications such as the learning process, peak performance in sports, and helping struggling students. Today, he is recognized as the foremost NLP authority on Learning Disabilities, including Attention Deficit Disorder

NLP and Language by Charles Faulkner
A prolific innovator, Charles has pioneered methods for accelerated language learning,as well as medical and financial decision-making. He is particularly well-known for his work with futures traders and his research on the role of "metaphor" in communication
and behavior. Charles is the author of Metaphors of Identity, Submodalities: An Inside View of Your Mind, Worlds Within a Word, The Essence of Intuition, The Mythic Wheel of Life, Creating Irresistible Influence with NLP, co-author of NLP In Action, and
chief architect and co-author of NLP:The New Technology of Achievement and Success Mastery with NLP.

NLP in Health and the Institute for the Advanced Studies of Health by Tim Hallbom

Tim Hallbom is a trainer, author, and developer in the field of Neuro-Linguistic Programming
(NLP).
In 1985 Tim co-founded an NLP Training Institute in Salt Lake City, Utah, which became an internationally recognized organization that offered practical, skill-based training to individuals, businesses and government organizations

Download at www.nlpmp3.com

Future interviews for NLPmp3

There are a number of exciting new interviews that will be appearing on www.nlpmp3.com from the USA IASH conference. Watch this space!

Geniuses in NLP, how many could there be?

While surfing the net in recent times I couldn't help but noticed how on many NLP and Hypnosis sites, individuals are increasingly described as geniuses! On one site I saw a list of interviews where all the interviewees were geniuses!

In Webster's dictionary a "genius" is defined as

"extraordinary intellectual power especially as manifested in creative activity c: a person endowed with transcendent mental superiority; especially : a person with a very high IQ"

On checking the alledged "geniuses" on the sites I found it somewhat difficult to think of many these people as posessing "transcendant mental superiority" and in some cases even "mental superiority"

In an era of hype in marketing it seems more and more commonplace that people give themselves ever grander titles and describe themselves in more grandiose ways. I have met some very smart people in the world of NLP, in business and in the Arts, but I struggle to properly describe many as geniuses. It reminds me of a comment I once heard in a workshop years ago when a trainer commented

"I have told you a million times not to exagerate!"

Controversial figures in NLP and Change Work

A casual glance at newsgroups shows how some NLP trainers provoke a huge range of responses. The very best ones usually attract the crazies and stalkers who obsess about their every utterance! I have had my own share of "pet stalkers, trolls and crazies" god bless them! Here are in my view some of the best minds worth checking out for Change Work and NLP.

Richard Bandler and other trainers that speak their minds
Of course Richard Bandler is probably the number one target for the usually anonymous posters and critics. RB has alwys been outspoken and although I don't agree with all his views he has done an amazing job in bringing NLP to the masses. I first trained with himin the 1990s and have interviewed him on a number of ocassions, mp3s and transcripts can be found at http://www.nlpmp3.com/. I have always been impressed by his sense of humour and attitude. He has of course written over 40 books and continues to run workshops in the UK, Europe and USA.

Frank Farrelly & Provocative Therapy
Another great trainer is Frank Farrelly who was doing clinical work while Richard was still in high school! Frank also has a great sense of humour, unbelievable attitude and razor sharp mind. He originally trained with Carl Rodgers, but his Provocative Therapy approach was poles apart from Carl's original work. Frank certainly had his battles with the establishment and on a number of ocassions the "establishment" tried to shut him down. Bandler and Grinder both had Frank on their radar in the 1980s. Frank still runs events at the age of 77 and will be in the UK in Nov 2008 - see www.associationforrovocativetherapy.com and www.provocativetherapy.info


Milton Erickson and Hypnosis
Milton was a big influence on the creators of NLP and was again pretty controversial in his approaches. On numerous ocassions the establishment of the day attempted to curtail his working. I don't know about his sense of humour, but like Frank he was also a real creative genius. Milton of course long since shuffled off this mortal coil but Doug O Brien teaches Ericksonian material in his NLP & Hypnosis events.

The new wave of trainers?
There are literally thousands of NLPers and therapists, but IMO few real inovators. Many NLP practitioners simply parrot what their trainer's taught them and don't make the imaginative leap to a new level. I'm always wary of those who focus on titles and always quote others rather than from their own experience. I created http://www.nlpmp3.com/ to bring many of the best minds to one place so people can hear a range of uncensoed views and advice.

Good Listening

Nick Kemp
Creator of NLPmp3.com
http://www.nickkemp.com/