What is NLP?
Neuro-Linguistic Programing (NLP) is a field of psychotherapy that evolved out of Cognitive Science research. Based in the scientific analysis of effective communication, it has evolved into a set of tools to enhance your mental flexibility and emotional intelligence.
The term Neuro-linguistic Programming describes the connection between one’s language and the “Map” of one’s personal psyche. One example of this is the description of individual eye movement or language “cues” associated with internal processing of information.
The chart below describes the most common eye movement pattern representing sensory links to the internal processing of a right handed individual; “v” represents visual processing, “a” auditory, and “k” kinesthetic. The pattern appears to be variable between individuals, however the practioners of Neuro-linguistic programming will use this and similar concepts to enhance understanding of the internal processes of their clients. The goal being to increase self awareness and efficiency through the development of understanding of one’s subjective experience.
Neuro-Linguistic Programming: Core Transformation
Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) is the science of modeling the patterns of human behavior. NLP explores the inner workings of the human mind: how we think, how we develop our desires, goals and fears and how we motivate ourselves, make connections, and give meaning to our experiences.
NLP is like the ‘user’s manual’ for the mind, and allows us to use the language of the mind to consistently achieve our specific and desired outcomes. You experience life through a set of perceptual filters that are unique to you. Your experience is filtered first by the limits of your sensory organs: what you are able to perceive is a small slice of the world. In this sense, you are out of touch with reality, because your every perception is ‘filtered’ not only by your biology (for instance, 2020 vision is about as good as it gets for humans), but also by your culture, family, education, community and other influences from your unique personal history – teachers, mentors, friends, enemies, etc. The primary presupposition underlying all of NLP is that The Map is not the Territory.
By becoming aware of how you know what you know through thoughts, feelings, and behaviors it becomes obvious that your reality can change when you change how you perceive your world through changing these modalities of perception. I’m sure you have experienced that when you change your point of view, your perception of a situation, your behavior will often change as well. When you can experience your own resourcefulness and wholeness through your own perception a natural sense of empowerment, wellbeing and creativity is revealed.
One of the most effective techniques of NLP is a process called Core Transformation. This technique supports the direct experience of healing through the recognition of wholeness thereby supporting integration emotionally, physically and spiritually. It is an elegant and simple process that offers a graceful way to change unwanted thoughts, feelings, and habits, and achieve goals you thought unattainable.
Specific changes attributed to the Core Transformation process include:
- Changing problem emotions and behaviors (i.e. anger, self-consciousness, procrastination, fear)
- Losing weight
- Improving relationships
- Overcoming depression and anxiety
- Healing addictions
- Finding fulfilling work
- Improving all aspects of health
- Creating an overall sense of inner peace, wholeness, and well-being
Through Core Transformation you find that what you perceive as limitations in your life are actually doorways toward resolution, liberation and healing. This is an alchemical composting process that truly gives you an experience of transformation and inclusion. As a culture we have been deeply conditioned to believe that in order to change we must get rid of what we judge as unlovable yet through this process there is a turnaround that invites you to embrace and invite all the qualities of yourself to participate in your own evolution. Imagine your most difficult problems actually having a positive aspect, something through which to learn, grow, and transform. Core Transformation gently guides you in discovering those positive intentions, leading to an experience of understanding, where awareness and change occur naturally. This is a deeply spiritual process that allows you to discover the enduring universal qualities of your own being that allow your uniqueness to be appreciated and expressed.
Bodhi Searles - Therapist
Bodhitara Diane Searles describes herself as the daughter of an alchemist and a zen teacher. Her father is a chemist and her mother is a practical mystic. She is the combination of their union and has grown into a human being whose heart is activated through deep transformational processes that are grounded in coherent and relevant sensibilities. Bodhi was born and raised in New York and have been living in the Hawaiian Islands for 25 years. She feels that she has been called here to be part of the great change, alchemy, and awakening to life affirmative sensibilities that is being revealed and put into practice worldwide. She has been on a spiritual path of awakening and have traveled extensively to sit, practice, and experience the depth of wisdom embodied by many Eastern teachers and teachings. She was given the name, Bodhitara, by Osho in her early twenties. The name means “Awakening to Compassion”. Bodhi still considers herself aligned and inspired by that liberating path of loving and meditation.
Bodhi is devoted to personal possibility and have a deep trust in what humans can be and do together when they focus hearts and minds on kindness, appreciation, and collaboration. Bodhi holds a Masters Degree in Education and love to cultivate a learning environment in all settings that she finds herself in. As a therapist She is a cultural creative and weave together many modalities. With a strong foundation in psychology and communication she loves the practice of hypnotherapy, voice dialogue, body based inquiry, neuro-linguistic programming (NLP), and writing practice. She also has delved into bodywork of all kinds and is adept in massage, authentic movement, and watsu but do not currently practice these forms of therapy. She does however integrate a somatic orientation in all the work she does. She also offers eco-psychology, Reichian Breathwork, and meditation to deepen the direct experience of wholeness in the field of healing so we do not dwell in the terrain of separation but rather thrive through inter-connectivity.
Bodhi’s work is truth driven, loving, and enlightening. She works intuitively and very deeply to include all aspects of the human experience. She loves the healing journey and feels that the body, mind, and heart are allies in our awakening if we know how to listen, feel, and take action where appropriate. In joy we are the most intelligent and in joy we heal because we recognize our nature to be that frequency of gratitude and appreciation for the miracle of life and the opportunity to share our gifts with everyone and every thing.
What Others Say
I learned about Breathwork, it was great, and have been slowly decreasing my meds. In two weeks, my Ativan dosage is lowered from 2 mg to NONE and I’m slowly lowering my SSRI dosage. I think my EFT sessions with Lilia were most beneficial, a lot came out in those. Although I only had a few sessions of The Work, I find that I am able to use those tools, of understanding my thoughts, often.
I received more affective psychotherapy treatment from Lilia in five sessions than going to my therapist back home for weekly sessions over a year and a half. My first Reichian Breathwork session with Dr. Baylac healed my deep grief about losing my father two years ago. I have felt peace about him ever since. I received great insight and perspective on anything that had been upsetting me over the past 15 years.
Breathwork and EFT were most beneficial for me. I had been to counselors before and had not made much progress. My issues were on the surface at the retreat and both techniques really pulled stuff out. They were like an emotional castor oil pack – drawing the impurities out of my soul.
Part of my therapy for the month that I was there was breathwork. I had emotions that Dr. Baylac helped me discover and then let go of. Without going into too much detail I had a less than favorable childhood with an abusive father. The gently supportive breathwork helped me open up my blocked emotions that I held in my throat and my stomach.
At Hawaii Naturopathic Retreat we discuss feelings, learn mindfulness, process the past, grief and pain and explore ways of coping with anxiety, depression and fear. Don’t let the past or future paralyze you. Live the life you deserve!