Pathways to Change - NLP & Tai Chi

This is a technique for re-evaluating difficult or troublesome memories given the insight of later knowledge.

To some extent it is a trimmed down version of the re-imprinting pattern taught in Practitioner and Master Practitioner courses.

Change Personal History is one of a number of NLP techniques that allow us to change the way in which we experience certain memories.

(1) Divide into pairs or threes and decide who is going to be the explorer (client) first and who is going to be guide (facilitator). If in threes then the third person is the observer and takes no active part in the process unless the guide gets stuck in some way.

(2) Establish and maintain rapport

For the purposes of this exercise the explorer selects a mild to middling troublesome state they wish to change. Intensely negative states or memories are perhaps best left to other techniques such as the Fast Phobia Cure or Reimprinting.

The guide might say something like...

'Think of a time when things didn't work out in the way that you wanted them to, and that you would like to feel different about that memory.'

(3) Check Ecology

(4) Minimally access the problem state and physically anchor it.

Break State

(4) Test the 'problem' anchor

Break State

(5) Assist the explorer in identifying a resource...

'What resource would have made it possible for you to have a much more satisfying and useful experience in that situation?'

Physically anchor the resource

(6) Test the resource anchor

Break State

(7) Integrate the resource by...

'Taking this resource (fire resource anchor) back into that problem memory (fire problem anchor) and find out what happens with this resource fully available to you. Watch and listen to all that happens as you relive the old experience in a new way. Take all the time you need and let me know when you are done.'

Calibrate to the integrated state that develops from the two states.

Break State

(8) Test the integration by firing the 'problem' anchor or ask about the 'problem' experience and calibrate to the response. Repeat steps (5)-(7) if required.

(9) Future pace by asking the explorer to think about a similar future situation as you fire the 'resource' anchor.