The Basis Of Coaching: NLP & MER
My Experience
I have been studying personal growth and psychology for over 2 decades, a certified Life Coach for 15 Years, and working with Tony Robbins for 7 years. I completed my Master NLP Practitioner training 6 years ago and trained in MER, and Hypnosis. I’m also trained in Strategic Intervention Coaching founded by Tony Robbins & Cloe Madanes.
I am a trainer of NLP focused on Youth Development. These courses are designed to help teachers, coaches, parents, and those who support youth to bring out the best in youth and empower our next generation with the skills to be their best selves.
Fascinated with Transformation
I became obsessed with NLP after attending a Tony Robbins event and watching him transform a boy who had stuttered for over 10 years and had little success with therapy. In 30 minutes, the boy had overcome his debilitating limitation, and had a completely new outlook on life. During this intervention, I noticed the language Tony used was a bit “strange” but I couldn’t put my figure on why. The order and questions were brilliant as well. I began researching NLP and discovered his secrets.
What does NLP do?
NLP is essentially a study of the connection between the neurological processes (“neuro”), language (“linguistic”) and behavioural patterns learned through experience (“programming”) and as such these can be changed to achieve specific goals in life. NLP can treat problems such as anxiety, depression, breaking bad habits, losing weight, dealing with chronic pain, emotional eating, addictions, learning disorders, and more.
What is NLP?
NLP or Neuro Linguistic Programming is a collection of tools and techniques that are used to create significant and lasting changes in people in a short period of time. NLP is typically used within coaching sessions as questions, exercises, and visualizations that can completely change the way someone thinks, feels, and behaves.
Where does NLP come from?
Most of the language, tools and techniques Tony Robbins uses could be considered NLP. It’s roots go back to the 70’s when two inquisitive minds (John Grinder and Richard Bandler) started studying therapists who were getting quick and remarkable results. Grinder & Bandler studied videos, transcripts, and live sessions to determine what was making the difference in people in quick and lasting ways. The techniques they discovered were put together in a collection of tools called NLP. Each year they are expanded on, modified, and improved by today’s NLP practitioners.
How can NLP help me or my child?
I primarily use NLP in my sessions to initially create rapport and trust, so clients can open up and tell me what’s really going on. I use NLP to help clients gain clarity for what they truly want and develop clear and concise goals that support their outcomes. NLP can be used to establish empowering states of mind. Emotions like self-confidence, courage, passion, play/joy, gratitude, and peace. These states will override self-sabotage, overwhelment, and a lack of motivation.
NLP can also be used to overcome limiting beliefs, conflicts, and bad habits. NLP can even be used to break free of cravings or dislike your favourite junk foods. I use NLP often to help people manage stress and anxiety and stick to their goals.
What is MER?
MER stands for Mental Emotional Release Therapy. It’s also known as Timeline Therapy. It was developed out of an NLP technique and put into a specific process by Tad James (one of Tony Robbins close NLP friends in the early days). Dr. Matt James (Tad’s son), has refined it further and included more coaching as part of the process, and re-named it MER. If you’re a Tony Robbins fan, if you’ve been to Unleash the Power Within, or experienced Tony’s Dickens Process, you’ve experienced this technique already.
The Beauty of MER
What’s also really great about MER is I don’t need to know what your issues, conflicts or traumas are. I have you think about them briefly, but we almost never have to talk about them. At the end of an MER session, clients will often see key moments in their past as important milestones for learning and growth, rather than blockages or emotionally draining events.
What can it do?
I find using this therapy extremely effective in my breakthrough sessions because it clears negative emotions and allows us to get to the root of issues quickly and easily. MER creates an incredible shift in a person in just one session. Clients often leave a Breakthrough Session in a bit of a cloud – feeling like life is perfect. Over the following few days, family and friends will wonder what’s different about you. As situations emerge that where once stressful, your reaction will solidify the profound effect that has taken place.
How do I experience MER?
MER is typically used in Breakthrough sessions that are 3-4 hours long. Most breakthrough sessions focus on one specific area of life i.e. health, relationship, school/career, etc. In some cases, a follow up session a few days later is required to make sure all the negative emotions are cleared, and any limitations or bad habits are gone. Some people continue with NLP & Coaching and never need MER again, some choose to do a breakthrough in each category on a monthly basis based on the success of their first session.
