NLP or Neurolinguistic Programming is the study of the structure of human experience. It's fundamental proposition is that thoughts have structure as well as content- and that understanding that structure can help you make changes.

NLP was created in the early seventies by Richard Bandler and John Grinder. Here's what they have to say:

"NLP is an attitude and a methodology that leaves behind it a trail of techniques"

Richard Bandler (Master Practitioner Training, London 2002)

"NLP is a modelling technology whose specific subject matter is the set of differences that make a difference between the performance of geniuses and that of average performers in the same field or activity"

John Grinder ("Whispering in the wind")

"NLP is the study of the structure of human experience and what can be calculated from that"

Richard Bandler.

In general use the term NLP has come to refer to the methodology used to discover and create models of behaviour, the techniques thus created and the teaching of these techniques. This can lead to some confusion and as John Grinder has commented (in an interview first published at www.inspirative.com), "NLP is typically taught and understood at a logical level below that which Richard and I intended."

The distinct and original contribution that Richard and John brought to the field of psychology is the process of behavioural modelling and an understanding of that skillset is key to an appreciation of what is and is not NLP.