Over the last few months, my life has felt like it was made up of three separate and distinct parts … my employed work within the NHS, my PhD and the current studying I’m doing around NLP. Recently, I’ve become aware as to how at least two of those parts are merging together and forming something new …
The learnings I’m taking away from NLP are feeding into my private practice and the work that I do with clients presenting with eating disorders and related issues. I’m seeing lots of possibilities for working with clients around weight loss and eating or body image issues incorporating various NLP techniques and approaches into my current understandings and ways of working. This, in turn, is feeding into my ideas for my new website, ‘Embodying Change,’ which will be live very soon...
And surprisingly, the world of NLP has collided and merged with my PhD world … Researching the topic of eating disorders and sharing my research with others, is ensuring that I’m increasingly becoming known (at least locally) as ‘an eating disorders specialist’. For a while, some time back, I decided I didn’t want to be known simply as an eating disorders specialist; I worried it might limit me. However, I’m increasingly recognising that my personal experience and understanding, combined with the vast amounts of literature I’m reading for my PhD, and the therapists I’m interviewing, are filling me with a unique & privileged mix of knowledge. And I want to share this with others …
Through people I’ve met connected with NLP, I’ve been invited to present at a conference next month in Newcastle where I’ll be talking about ‘effective change work with clients presenting with eating disorders.’ This is the inaugural conference of NCCCTC (Northern Changeworkers, Counsellors, Coaches & Therapists Conference; www.nccctc.co.uk) and it’s so exciting and feels like a huge privilege to have been asked to present at this conference.
It also feels like this is where, for me, the worlds of eating disorders, PhD and NLP all come together as one … it feels like this is where the separate parts of myself collide and merge. I have the opportunity to share my passion with others; to talk about eating disorders, embodied experience and how I work with clients. It’s a chance to share my knowledge and understanding which is continuously developing as I integrate counselling theories, NLP and hypnotherapy approaches, the experience of specialists I’m interviewing, books & articles I’m reading and my own personal interpretations. It’s also for me, where ‘Embodying Change’ takes its first breath in the world…
The coming month feels like a hugely exciting one for me … I’m presenting my academic research as a poster presentation at BACP’s Research Conference in Liverpool on 6th & 7th May, and then the following weekend (14th &15th May), I’m presenting at NCCCTC.
This really excites me, to find someone who is ostensibly grounded as a Rogerian Counsellor (my assumption), who is open enough (not that common i find, on a professional identity level) to the benefits of what feels like (the sense from prescribed theory and taught learning in my degree) the 'dark side', NLP and its coaching/motivational relatives.
ReplyDeleteI have been so compellingly persuaded of the benefits of living with some response-ability, conscious intent, and aspiring to mindfulness of our body/mind interface. I have living proof, my daughter, 21 yo, who became 'living dead' with ME, housebound, hyper exhausted and IMPOSSIBLE to be with or help.. All the Graded Excercise and CBT would get no where with her whatsoever, and the official and only view of the professions was that you just have to accept it, cannot fight it.
Well, we took a risk, tried an unconventional approach that was frowned upon. 4 hrs later, It was completely and very shockingly neutralised ... switched off. I still cannot believe how it can be so dramatic, 4 months on, as she flies around the world now, has so much energy and passion.
It was NLP, with a blend of Osteopathy and a rational explanation of how ME may work.
I am considering swinging my direction into NLP specialism, as my confidence for the PCA has been eroded over time, finding very few really effective therapists/role models in that modality, many simply trailing their client, timidly (well that has been my own personal experience as client too). Using PCA as a basis will always ge good for establishing 'the relationship' and therapeutic frame, but its not 'sufficient' on its own ... i suggest, tentatively ;) .
Really enjoy your posts ... usually sparks something off .. even if i somehow manage to 'lose' many of my postings, accidentally delete.
Very best wishes for the NCCCTC event .. and, pleasant dreams!
Thanks for commenting, and thanks for your kind wishes.
ReplyDeleteYes, I am very grounded in person centred principles, but like yourself, I think sometimes some clients need more. The challenge I face is finding ways to integrate new learnings & techniques such as NLP into my person centred base philosophy ... I think I'm finding my way!