NLP Meta Model

The Meta model is one of the models used for neuro-linguistic programming or neuro-linguistic therapy, and consists of a precise set of rules and building blocks for construction of the model.

The meta model comprises of a set of explicit questions and language patterns that are intended to question and enlarge the boundaries of an individual’s model or a map of the perception of that individual as regards the surrounding world.

What is NLP Meta Model

A meta model consists primarily of certain specific rules and constructs that are necessary to build explicit models by remaining inside the realm of interest. A meta model seeks to understand the underlying perspective of the individual. When an individual is asked to describe his problems or trouble, the person will usually constrain the choice of words, modify, generalize or remove certain information that was part of the actual experience. The person will usually portray the situation in close relation to his understanding of the experience, and will not usually give out all the details that caused or occurred during that event.

In this case, a practitioner using neuro-linguistic courses with meta model, will strive to retrieve the underlying information from the client by understanding his language patterns and then asking him certain specific probing questions. The neuro-linguistic practitioner will listen carefully to the choice of words employed by the client, and respond to a statement made by the client with an inquisitive question. This will help the client reach his underlying thoughts and perception and convert them into speech, which can then be analyzed to rectify the problem.

Neuro-linguistic programming using the meta model aims at bringing out the deep rooted fears, restrictive beliefs, values and limited thinking on an individual by probing and questioning the individual to understand and verbalize the actual feeling and thoughts behind their experience or perception.

The words chosen by the individual are valuable indicators of his map of the world, and a good neuro-linguistic will seek to understand the individual’s model by attentive and judicious listening. Any therapist who brings his own beliefs, perceptions and point of views to the room will not be able to recover significant information from the client, and may miss the key aspects and deep rooted view point of the conversation.

The neuro-linguistic courses can also be applied to business or for neuro-linguistic therapy. Several deep rooted issues can be addressed using the techniques of the meta model for helping the client clarify certain details of work related problems. The client might have a different perspective or understanding of the work related goals and objectives. He might have certain fixed ideas on work proposals, meetings and discussions. By using explicit questions, the client can be prodded to elaborate on the various details of his problem that are hidden and not expressed by him during conversations.

As an example, a client might make a statement that a decision needs to be made. A therapist using neuro-linguistic courses realizes that the client is making a generalized statement, with no indication of who would be responsible for making the actual decision.

Therefore as a response to this statement, the therapist will ask the client who would be involved in the decision process, and what would be the method followed by these people to reach the final decision.

Also, since the client specified the need to such an action, the neuro-linguistic therapist will try to find out whether such an action is in fact necessary in the first place. By challenging the very assumptions that lie behind the statement, the neuro-linguistic programming practitioner can more correctly understand the thought process of the client and then form a model of this behavior.