What is the NLP Meta Model?

The Meta Model is a simple linguistic model for doing therapy and change work

The Meta Model consists of a number of simplified language techniques; that therapists and other professionals have used for making permanent changes to a person’s behavior

Co-created by Dr John Grinder and Richard Bandler; the Meta Model provides a simplified guide; to the verbal techniques that can be used to help a person make actual behavioural changes

A Model of Human Behaviour

For example: one of the key elements of human behaviour is the ability to create connections between two different components of an experience

For instance when someone says: "Your tone of voice makes me scared",
the speaker is suggesting that the two different components:
'The other person’s tone of voice', and: 'their own feelings of fear',
are somehow connected together,
so that: 'One causes the other'

Another example might be: "Looking at this beautiful view fills me with awe"

In this second example the speaker is suggesting that the two separate components: 'Looking at the view' and: 'Feeling a sense of Awe', are again connected together. That: 'One component of experience is causing the other'

This type of behaviour is called a cause-effect

A Model for Changing Human Behaviour

Cause-effects are one of the most fundamental building blocks of human behaviour and understanding, and explain many of the positive and negative experiences, that we as human beings can experience

If a client is using a cause-effect to describe a problem, then the therapist can help the client to change that cause-effect, and therefore the problem, by presenting new information; that the client both accepts as true, and at the same time clearly contradicts the original problem

For example, if the client were to say: "Everything that you say causes a problem", then the therapist might ask: "When I taught you how to control your feelings, and how to feel better about yourself, did that cause you a problem?"

In this simple example, the therapist has presented a real-life contradiction to the original statement, and in understanding this contradiction; the client is forced to revaluate and therefore change the fundamental experience underlying their original statement

In other words, the client has taken a small step towards changing their experience and behaviour

The Meta Model
- A Comprehensive Model of Change

In total the Meta Model has 16 powerful behavioural change techniques, one for each one of the different elements of human experience and behaviour that the Meta Model uncovers

As a simple tool for understanding and changing human behaviour, there is nothing quite as succinct and yet far reaching as the Meta Model

Milton Erickson; the famous hypnotist once described The Meta Model as:

"A delightful simplification of the infinite complexities of language that I use with my patients"

Learning to use the Meta Model Yourself
- Becoming a Master of Change

To begin using the Meta Model takes real practice. Each pattern needs to be thoroughly understood and used for a period of time; before the practitioner really grasps both the depth, breadth and real power behind each component of this insightful model

To make it much easier to get this practice, the NLP Coach training software takes advantage of several accelerated learning techniques for the presentation of the Meta Model training.

This has a profound effect on your understanding, and ensures the learning occurs on a much deeper level than merely reading a book, or writing down examples on a piece of paper

Using an intelligent balance of instruction and demonstration, followed with interactive exercises; NLP Coach thoroughly teaches you to use each and every one of the original 16 Meta Model language patterns

The Meta Model Patterns taught by NLP Coach include: