Neurolinguistic Programming (NLP) is a very popular form of therapy. Just like other therapies, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), NLP has proven results, and that is why so many people choose this form of therapy.
As NLP is a talking therapy – just like CBT – the results of this therapy are not instant. While it can eventually prove as effective as medication (in some cases), the impact of the therapy will not be instant.
This can be disheartening if you are in a bad place and require help. But in the long run, the impact of NLP will be totally worth the delay in it starting to work.
If you are wondering how long it takes for NLP to work, then you are in the right place. In this guide, we’re taking a look at how long it takes for this therapy to start working, and lots more.
Read on to find out more.
What Is NLP?
First things first, let’s take a really quick look at exactly what NLP is. There are a couple of different terms that use the acronym “NLP”. But, in this case, we are talking about Neurolinguistic Programming.
Neurolinguistic Programming is a style of talking therapy and it is based on pseudoscience. This approach looks at communication, psychology, and personal development, and it was first referenced in the 1970s.
Many people find NLP to be incredibly effective as it targets the subconscious thought process that occurs when we feel a certain way. This is how it differs from other therapies.
Most therapies focus on changing the way that we consciously react when we are feeling a certain way.
For example, how we react and feel when somebody says something that hurts us or the way we react when we are feeling anger.
These therapies require you to consciously change the way that you react based on what you have learned through therapy. NLP is different.
Instead of requiring you to consciously choose to react a different way, NLP targets your subconscious and allows you to subconsciously change the way you react.
That is why a lot of people report this therapy as being very effective as it removes the need to choose the way you react. Instead, your body will just react in a certain way depending on the situation.
How Long Does It Take For NLP To Work?
So, as we have established, for many people NLP is a very effective therapy. In particular, this form of talking therapy works well for people who suffer from anxiety, depression, and stress, and many report it easing the symptoms of these conditions. But how long does it take for it to work?
Well, the effects of NLP will not be instant. Like all talking therapies, it will take time for you to begin to notice the impact that NLP is having on your life. However, you will generally be able to notice the effect of NLP quicker than other styles of talking therapy.
Most people who have completed NLP have said that it has taken between 2–3 sessions for them to notice the impact of NLP on their lives.
For most standard cases of NLP, you will start to notice the effect of it after around 3 sessions. For more complex cases, then you will typically need to complete more NLP sessions in order to feel the benefits of this talking therapy.
How Many NLP Sessions Do You Need?
While many people refer to NLP as a therapy, it is a little more like a style of life coaching. This therapy can really help you develop as a person, and when you commit yourself to it, you will start to see the impact of this therapy fairly quickly.
NLP therapy will consist of fairly long sessions, and for this reason, you can generally complete a course of this therapy in fewer sessions than some other types of therapy.
The typical length of an NLP session is 90 minutes, and this will give you lots of time to discuss everything that is discussed in this therapy.
When booking a series of NLP sessions, most people will commit to around 3 sessions at first. As we said earlier, for most standard cases, 3 sessions of NLP will be more than enough to impact your subconscious mind and change the way that you react to certain situations.
However, if you have a complex background, then you are likely to need to double the number of sessions.
So, the number of NLP sessions you will require will depend on your personal situation and background. However, the majority of people will complete a course of NLP in around 3 sessions, with more complex cases requiring around 6 sessions to truly feel the impact of NLP.
Is NLP Really Effective?
By all accounts, NLP is very effective. While this therapy is based on pseudoscience, it has proven effective in a lot of cases, and it has also been used to treat a variety of different conditions.
Not only has NLP been used by people to alleviate the symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression, but it has also been used to aid physical symptoms, as well as mental symptoms.
Lots of people have used NLP to target physical symptoms, such as pain, allergies, and vision problems, and it has proven super effective.
NLP is designed to target the brain, and many people report that it has lots of positive effects.
But, with all therapies, what you get out of NLP will really depend on the amount of time and effort you are willing to put into this therapy, and how well you apply yourself to it.
What Is the Success Rate Of NLP?
Finally, let’s wrap this up by taking a look at the success rate of NLP. Well, it is difficult to determine the exact success rate of NLP because the effectiveness of this therapy will rely on the individual.
However, there have been multiple cases of this therapy being very effective.
While NLP doesn’t work instantly, there is no denying that this is one of the therapies that work quickest based on the number of sessions.
For standard cases, NLP will start working in less than 3 sessions, and that is incredibly quick for a talking therapy. This is partly due to the fact that NLP requires the participant to disclose a lot less information than other therapies.
As NLP requires less information to be disclosed to the coach, you can achieve a lot more in each session. Hence why this therapy tends to work so quickly.
If you really apply yourself to NLP, then this therapy could be extremely effective in treating lots of different conditions.
Summary
In short, as NLP is a talking therapy, the results of this therapy will not be instant. However, you generally won’t have to wait too long to start seeing the results of your neurolinguistic programming.
Typically, after 2–3 sessions you will start to see the impact that NLP is having on your life. We have explored the reasons for this and the effectiveness of NLP in this guide. So, we hope the information has been helpful.
Thanks for reading!