From: lady@uhunix.uhcc.Hawaii.Edu (Lee Lady)
Subject: Re: Neuro-Linguistic Programming (FAQ)
Followup-To: sci.psychology
Summary: Some of the techniques should be effective with anxiety disorders. 
Keywords: NLP  NeuroLinguistic Programming
Organization: University of Hawaii (Mathematics Dept)
Distribution: usa
Date: Fri, 11 Dec 1992 21:48:22 GMT

In article <1992Dec11.065738.24491@bradley.bradley.edu> pwh@bradley.bradley.edu 
       (Pete Hartman) writes:

>I think there is some understandable confusion between what NLP "is",
>and the claims that an NLP practitioner can produce fast phobia cures.
>A phobia is a psychological disorder after all, and while not directly
>cured "by" NLP, it is cured via techniques that are taught as NLP.

I believe that any therapist can learn to use NLP techniques to cure
many cases of anxiety disorders, often including:  simple phobias;
performance anxiety;  obsessive-compulsive disorder;  post-traumatic 
stress syndrome.  

(Note:  A "simple phobia" is defined in the DSM as a phobia other than
agoraphoba (not a true phobia at all) and social phobia.  Some people
believe that certain fears, such as fear of flying, should also not be
classified as phobias since they are not a phobic reaction to a
specific stimulus but more like a high level of anxiety about a
generalized situation.  Some NLPers do claim to be successful using the
Fast Phobia/Trauma Cure for fear of flying.)

A therapist does not have to become an NLP practitioner in order to learn
these techniques.  I believe that a skilled therapist can learn them by
reading their descriptions in books (such as HEART OF THE MIND by
Connirae and Steve Andreas) or seeing them demonstrated on videotapes.  
Videotapes showing these techniques usually sell for between $50 and
$100.  Although this makes them rather expensive for the merely curious,
when one considers that most therapists charge $100 per hour or more, I
think the cost is not unduly burdensome.  Recently NLP Comprehensive 
(2897 Valmont Rd, Boulder, CO 80301 (303) 442-1102)  has begun making many
of these tapes available for rental.  (Note:  These videotapes are not
self-help tapes.  They are not intended to cure your phobia, they teach
you how to cure other people's.)

I think that most NLP practitioners would be willing to spend an hour
at modest cost teaching one of these techniques to any therapist.  Some
of these techniques have also been described by me in articles posted in
sci.psychology.  

My belief in the effectiveness of these techniques is based on my
personal experience using them and on the reports I've heard from others.
Obviously such personal experience and hearsay does not constitute
scientific evidence.  Furthermore the people I've worked with have been
people with fairly mild phobias, minor compusions, and traumatic memories
-- often from their childhood.  It is possible that results would be
not be the same for people with severe anxiety disorders.  

These are one-session techniques.  In fact, the actual technique usually
takes less than 15 minutes.  My advice to therapists would be to learn
one of these techniques and try it out for yourself.  It is reasonable,
of course, to inform a client that these techniques must be, for the time
being, considered experimental.  I believe that when a therapist finds
out what these techniques actually involve, and realizes that many of
them are refinements of known behavioral approaches (for instance
flooding), that there will not be an ethical concern about trying them out
on clients with informed consent.    

--
It is a poor sort of skepticism which merely delights in challenging
those claims which conflict with one's own belief system.  
                                                          --Bogus quote 
lady@uhunix.uhcc.hawaii.edu         lady@uhunix.bitnet