NLP Book - The Rainbow Machine by Andrew T. Austin

Clients, friends and colleagues often ask me what NLP books I would recommend.  

This month I read The Rainbow Machine - Tales from a Neurolinguist's Journal by Andrew T. Austin.  It's an excellent read and I wholly recommend it to anybody interested in NLP. I particularly enjoyed the anecdotal style of the book with lots of stories and accounts of Andrew Austin's experience.  During his work in general and psychiatric nursing he used NLP in wide and diverse ways.  He describes situations in which, following the failure of conventional psychology and psychiatric care, he helped patients to achieve dramatic transformations.

The book is witty and amusing. And most chapters are only a couple of pages long, which means it's easy to dip in and out. Like many good NLP books it teaches through the unconscious - I've found myself using versions of Andrew's techniques without even thinking about it.

If, after reading Andrew Austin's book, you want to learn more about his NLP style you can meet him at the online NLP Study Group, read his articles on 23nlppeople.com  or join the West Sussex Hypnosis and NLP Study Group.

Posted by Andy Lucas - Spring to Mind NLP Brighton.

An Evening with Richard Bandler - Event in London

I've just discovered from the excellent NLP Connections website that there is to be another Evening with Richard Bandler (co-creator of NLP) event in London next month (October 2008).

If you have read any of Richard Bandler's books or seen his fantastic DVDs you will already know what a great opportunity it is to see him live.  The event is designed to have wide appeal, whether you are new to NLP or experienced, and whether you have trained with Richard Bandler before or not.  There is a lot more information about the event on the NLP Connections website where there is also a ticket sales page.

Master NLP trainer Kate Benson went to last year's event and made the following comment: "The advantage of a 3 hour session is that us mere mortals can track what he is doing whereas on a 7 day we get lost about Wednesday!"  Another words this is a great chance to discover Richard Bandler's latest ideas and developments of NLP. The event details are as follows:

Thursday 9th October, 6pm - 9pm

Ibis Hotel, Earls Court, London

£80 

(no VAT if you book through NLP Connections)

Meanwhile there is plenty more information about Richard Bandler on the Society of NLP website.

Enjoy!!!

Posted by:  Andy Lucas - Spring to Mind NLP Brighton

NLP and weight loss

Many people seek hypnotherapy and NLP to help with weight loss and weight control.  One of my clients used to have a craving for sugary food.  I gave her a series of hypnotherapy and NLP sessions to help her with weight control including a session specifically on sugary food. The article below was written by my client on her blog The Curvy Goddess  following the session.

Hypnotherapy: My bad relationship with sugar is finally over

WARNING: I do not recommend reading the post below if you are eating.

Last Thursday I was miserable.

Despite now comfortably using a gym and going to exercise classes, I still wasn't losing any weight.

And I was at battle with myself, constantly…

I wanted sweet things, cake, chocolate and ice-cream. But I also wanted to lose weight and the two of them are just not compatible, especially as once I had one cup cake or Twix or ben and jerrys, I just wanted more.

Abstaining from sweet stuff was hard.

As soon as I stopped eating it, all I could do was think about it. And then it was on my mind all of the time, I need that Twix with my cup of tea, I've been to the gym so I can go to starbucks and get a cup cake - I deserve it.

I was exhausted by needing, wanting and having sugar. I was fed up of feeling that way, all the time.

…

And then a miracle happened.

I went to hypnotherapy.

Rambled all of the above, in uber fast Rachel-talking speed to the poor hypnotherapist, barely having time to breathe between words.

I wanted sugar out of my life for good.

Somewhere in my intentions to fix my diet and health - I screwed up. A normal relationship with sugar is not something I can have anymore.

So the hypnotherapist did his thing. He used NLP and hypnosis. I was asked to talk about a food I disliked and a choc/cake/ice-cream that I liked.

I thought of steak & kidney puddings (dislike) and of twixes (liked - in the past sense, because I don't anymore).

Fortunately for me I have a rather traumatic memory of a steak & kidney pudding as a child. This was no ordinary steak & kidney pud, it came from my Dad's army ration pack and there was probably dog in it rather than steak. It was revolting. The texture of the bits of kidney in that pie did and still do make me shudder. It was like slugs.

And that’s it. Sugar addiction all gone. I don't waste time obsessing about sweet stuff any more, it doesn't pop into my head constantly. There are times when I notice the absence of my addiction and in those moments when I try to think of one of my former sweet favourites, I see them in my head looking all perfect and then a giant, ugly slimy grey slug on them. And there is no f**king way I'm going to eat sluggy sweets ever again.

I haven't eaten any sweet things for seven days now, normally that would have taken an enormous amount of will power. But this last week has been a breeze. Eating healthily now is so easy, spending time making healthy food doesn't seem the chore it did before when my energy levels were riddled with extreme highs and lows.

I really, really love this.

I hope it lasts.

If you have any questions about NLP and hypnotherapy for weight control you will find some useful information on my weight control & hypnotherapy webpage or for general information about NLP check out my NLP Brighton webpage.

Brighton NLP Group

If you live in Brighton, have a passion or interest in NLP, are interested in learning more about NLP or would like to swap thoughts and experiences about the subject there is an excellent monthly group in Brighton.  

The Brighton NLP Group is a not-for-profit organisation aimed across all NLP denominations.  The group meets every second Thursday of the month at The Chimney House, 28 Upper Hamilton Road, Brighton. Meetings start at 7.30pm and finish between 9.30pm and 10.00pm. The cost for attendance is £5.

The next event, on Thursday, 11^th September 2008, is on the subject of Meta Medicine.  Viv Craske, Meta-Medicine consultant, NLP practitioner and hypnotherapist, will be giving the presentation.

There is a growing interest in Meta-Medicine amongst NLP practitioners and hypnotherapists. Meta-Medicine is said to be a powerful diagnostic tool showing you:

• what specific stressful events cause particular illnesses and why;
• the biological meaning of disease, chronic or acute, physical or mental.

During the presentation you will get a chance to see how Meta-Medicine and NLP work together to help clients feel well again.

Further information about the group visit the Brighton NLP Group website.

Posted by: Andy Lucas Spring to Mind NLP Brighton.

Update - NLP Course in Southampton

I mentioned ISIS NLP Training on my previous blog.  Well.... the good news is they are running an NLP Practitoners Course in Southampton from 13th to 19th October 2008.  It's at an amazing price of £1,250 plus VAT and they're offering a 10% discount for telephone bookings.  If you want to find out more about the NLP course you can visit the ISIS NLP Training website.

Meanwhile if you fancy wetting your appetite and trying NLP on for size I am happy to provide some NLP coaching. You can find out more on my website Spring to Mind NLP Brighton.

(For a map of my location follow this link to my google map.)

NLP Training Courses

People often ask me where is the best place to get some decent NLP training.  There are many providers out there so it can be very confusing to the uninitiated.

My advice is find an NLP trainer who has been trained and approved by The Society of NLP, which is directly associated with Richard Bandler the co-creator of NLP.  All of its approved trainers have been trained by Richard Bandler personally.  For information visit the Society of NLP website.

If you are based in Brighton or if you are happy to travel to Brighton, and let's face it who wouldn't fancy a break in this wonderful seaside city, I would recommend ISIS NLP Training. Their trainers are all approved by Richard Bandler and they are constantly revising their course material to bring you the most up to date developments.  And they're lovely people.  I don't know about you, but I like to be trained by lovely people.   You can find out about course dates and content and booking information by visiting ISIS NLP Training website.  

Meanwhile if you want to dip your toes into the beautiful waters of NLP and see if it resonates for you why not book a few NLP coaching sessions with a Master NLP Practitioner.  You will find one in your local area.  I suggest getting somebody who combines NLP with hypnotherapy.  In fact hypnosis is an essential element of NLP practice, so you will get a meaningful introduction to NLP if you find somebody who integrates hypnosis into her/his NLP sessions.  If you are based in Brighton or Sussex you could even book a session with me. My details are on Spring to Mind Brighton NLP.

Finally I would strongly urge you to get one or two books by Richard Bandler.  They are a great read and extremely entertaining.  I really like the way they reach right into my subconscious so I learn without even concentrating.  After a long day at work my conscious mind is ready for some time off, so unconscious learning is a real treat.  

More tips soon.

Have fun,

Andy x