A friend of mine recently retired from corporate and now works as a life coach. Leveraging his experience as an executive, he has since acquired skills in coaching, Neurolinguistic Programming (NLP) and Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT). His practice is pretty robust.

I will describe the work of a coach. Then I will describe the conceptual and practical features of NLP and CBT separately, before describing the pro’s and con’s of combining these disciplines into a coaching practice.

The field of professional life coaching involves working with individuals to help them set and achieve personal and professional goals, overcome challenges, and make positive changes in their lives. Let’s break it down:

Who are their clients?

Life coaching clients are pretty diverse, including:

1. Professionals looking to advance in their careers, improve work-life balance, or transition to a new career.
2. Individuals seeking personal growth and development of skills like time management or communication.
3. Entrepreneurs who might need help with decision-making, business strategies, or managing the pressures of running a business.
4. Young adults navigating education choices, career options, or personal development.
5. People in life transitions, such as retirement, divorce, or relocation, who need guidance in adapting and setting new goals.

They might seek coaching for various reasons, including:

1. Setting and achieving goals.
2. Building confidence and self-esteem.
3. Improving relationships and communication skills.
4. Managing stress and finding work-life balance.
5. Developing leadership and professional skills.
6. Gaining clarity and direction in life.
7. Overcoming procrastination and boosting productivity.

Qualifications of Coaches:

1. Certification: There’s no one legal requirement, but many coaches undergo training programs accredited by organizations like the International Coach Federation (ICF) or the International Association of Coaching (IAC).
2. Background: Coaches come from various backgrounds including psychology, business, human resources
3. Experience: Good coaches often have experience working with a variety of clients and issues.

Skill Sets and Knowledge Background:

1. Active Listening: Coaches need to listen deeply.
2. Questioning: They ask powerful questions that provoke thought and self-reflection.
3. Goal Setting: They help clients set realistic and achievable goals.
4. Communication Skills: They communicate clearly and effectively.
5. Motivation Techniques: Coaches motivate clients and keep them accountable.
6. Problem-solving and Decision-making: Coaches helping clients develop these skills.
7. Understanding of Human Behavior: They show basic knowledge of psychology.

What do sessions look like?

1. Initial Consultation: The first session is often a get-to-know-you session, where the coach learns about the client’s background, challenges, and goals.
2. Goal Setting: Early sessions typically involve setting goals and establishing what the client wants to achieve through coaching.
3. Regular Sessions: These may be weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly, and generally last 45 minutes to an hour. They involve reviewing progress, addressing challenges, setting action steps, and sometimes doing exercises or activities.
4. Action Plans and Homework: Often, coaches will assign ‘homework’ or action steps for clients to complete between sessions.
5. Conclusion: As coaching progresses, there will be a wrap-up session where client and coach review the goals achieved and discuss next steps for the client.

Coaching is a collaborative process. Ultimately it’s the client who takes the action to make the changes they want in their life.

Now let’s look into two disciplines that commonly provide tools in coaching: NLP and CBT.

NLP consists of a set of tools and techniques that can help people understand how they think and feel, and how to communicate effectively.

Now, imagine your brain is a computer, NLP tries to teach you how to use the software to get the results you want in life. The name itself, Neurolinguistic Programming, means programming the language of the brain.

Professional NLP coaches are like personal trainers for the brain. They work with people to help them change the way they think, feel, and behave. They’re like your buddies helping with mental life hacks. Here’s what they might do:

1. Setting Goals: They help you figure out what you really want. Like getting over a fear, boosting your confidence, or getting better at talking to people.
2. Changing Thoughts and Beliefs: If you’ve got some thoughts that are dragging you down, they’ll work with you to flip the script in your head. They might help you change how you talk to yourself, so you’re more like your own cheerleader instead of your own worst critic.
3. Improving Communication: They can give you tips on how to talk and listen better. This is cool because it can help you get along with people, whether it’s your boss, your partner, or the barista at your favorite coffee place.
4. Handling Emotions: NLP coaches might give you strategies for dealing with emotions like anxiety or anger.

NLP is like a mixed bag, however. Some swear by it, while others think it doesn’t have strong scientific backing.

Some people say NLP is not scientific because it lacks solid evidence to back up many of its claims. Let’s dive into some reasons why it’s often criticized:

1. Vague Theories: Some of the concepts and theories in NLP are not clearly defined. In science, it’s important for theories to be so defined that they can be rigorously tested and results compared across practitioners. However, in NLP, some of the ideas are kind of fuzzy and hard to pin down.
2. Lack of Empirical Evidence: For something to be considered scientific, it usually needs to have a good amount of research and data to support it, and the results should be comparable. With NLP, there’s not a lot of solid, high-quality research. Some studies show positive results, but many are not considered reliable by scientific standards.
3. Anecdotal Evidence: A lot of the support for NLP comes from personal stories and anecdotes. While these stories can be powerful, they aren’t considered strong evidence in science. In science, you need controlled studies to really say for sure that something is effective, and anecdotes don’t meet that bar.
4. Over-hyped Claims: Sometimes, NLP practitioners make really big claims about what NLP can do, like radically change your life in a very short time, or help you master any skill effortlessly. These types of claims can make people skeptical.
5. “One Size Fits All” Approach: NLP often presents itself as a cure-all for a huge range of issues, from phobias to relationship problems. In science, it’s rare for one approach to be a silver bullet for many different issues. This kind of overgeneralization is often seen as a red flag.
6. Commercial Interests: NLP has been heavily marketed, and there’s a big industry around NLP training and certification. Sometimes, when there’s a lot of money involved, people worry that the claims being made might be more about selling courses than about solid science.

While some individuals find value in NLP for personal development or communication, the skepticism about its scientific validity mainly stems from the lack of rigorous, high-quality research supporting its techniques and the sometimes extravagant claims made by its proponents.

Keep in mind that NLP is not like getting a prescription from a doctor. It’s more like a set of strategies and techniques that some people find helpful. But, like everything, it might not be everyone’s cup of tea. It might not provide solutions to address psychological problems such as anxiety, depression and stress. For this, CBT might be more useful.

Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) is a type of therapy that’s backed up by quite a bit of science. It’s like a practical tool kit for dealing with problems like anxiety, depression, and stress. Let’s get into the nitty-gritty of CBT:

1. Scientific Basis: CBT is based on the idea that our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are all connected. When you change one, you can change the others. There’s a ton of research showing that CBT can be effective for a range of issues, especially anxiety and depression. It’s the go-to therapy when psychologists are talking about evidence-based treatments.
2. Structured and Goal-Oriented: Unlike some other types of therapy, CBT is pretty structured. It’s not just about talking about your problems; it’s about setting goals and making a game plan to tackle them.

What do professional CBT therapists do in their work?

1. Identify Problematic Thoughts: CBT therapists help you become like a detective of your own mind. They help you pinpoint thoughts that are causing you trouble. Maybe you have thoughts like “I’m worthless” or “I’m going to mess everything up”.
2. Challenge Those Thoughts: Once you’ve identified these sneaky thoughts, the therapist helps you challenge them. They might ask, “What’s the evidence for that thought?” or “Is there another way to look at this situation?” Just because you think something, doesn’t mean it’s true.
3. Change Behaviors: Sometimes it’s not just about changing thoughts, but also about changing what you do. For instance, if you’re anxious about social situations, a CBT therapist might help you to gradually face these fears instead of avoiding them.
4. Teach Coping Skills: CBT therapists often teach coping skills, like relaxation techniques or problem-solving strategies.
5. Homework Assignments: You heard it right. But not the boring kind. Homework in CBT might include keeping a journal of your thoughts, or practicing a new skill you’ve learned in therapy to record what you do in therapy and applying it to real life.

CBT is not without its critics. Here are a few:

1. Not suitable for everyone: CBT is a highly structured and focused form of therapy, and some individuals may not respond well to this approach. For example, people with more complex mental health issues, like severe personality disorders or chronic mental illnesses, may need a psychiatrist.
2. Overemphasis on cognition: Some critics argue that CBT puts too much emphasis on thoughts and doesn’t pay enough attention to emotions. They feel that it sometimes ignores the underlying emotional aspects and focuses too much on changing thought patterns.
3. Symptom-focused: CBT often targets specific symptoms rather than underlying issues. Critics argue that by focusing on symptoms, CBT might not address the root causes of psychological distress, and this could lead to recurring problems.
4. Homogenization of treatment: Because CBT is often manualized, meaning therapists follow a sort of “treatment manual”, some believe it can lead to a one-size-fits-all approach. This might make it feel impersonal for some clients.
5. Short-term effectiveness: While CBT is often touted for its effectiveness, some studies suggest that the benefits might not always last in the long term. For certain issues, the effects of CBT might diminish over time after the therapy ends.
6. Over-reliance on techniques: Some argue that CBT relies too much on techniques and homework assignments and that this can sometimes detract from the therapeutic relationship, which is also an essential component of the healing process.
7. Sociopolitical criticisms: Some critics from a sociopolitical standpoint argue that CBT is focused on helping individuals adapt to their circumstances rather than questioning or challenging the societal factors that might contribute to mental health issues.
8. Accessibility and Cost: Even though CBT is effective, accessing it can be challenging for some due to cost, availability of trained therapists, and sometimes cultural barriers. This limits its reach to only those who can afford and access it.

While CBT is effective for many, it’s not a magic bullet (Nothing is.). Some of the criticisms can be addressed by integrating CBT with other therapeutic approaches to create a more tailored treatment plan for each individual.

CBT doesn’t drag on for years. In fact, the idea is for people to learn to take care of themselves after being equipped with these tools.

Many professional coaches combine NLP and CBT into their coaching program. This might have some benefits as well as drawbacks. Here’s a breakdown:

Pros:

1. Diverse toolkit: With NLP and CBT, a coach can offer a broader range of strategies and techniques. This diversity might be helpful for clients who respond differently to various approaches.
2. Enhanced communication skills: NLP is known for focusing on communication and rapport-building techniques. When combined with CBT, these skills can enhance the coach-client relationship and help clients communicate more effectively.
3. Greater focus on goals and outcomes: Both NLP and CBT are goal-oriented approaches. The combination could lead to a strong focus on setting and achieving specific objectives, which can be motivating for clients.
4. Personalized approach: Some clients may benefit from the cognitive restructuring of CBT but also find value in the NLP methods that address language patterns and belief systems. Combining the two can cater to different learning styles and preferences.
5. Self-empowerment and mindset shifts: NLP often emphasizes empowerment and changing one’s mindset. When combined with CBT’s focus on restructuring negative thought patterns, this can be potent for personal development.

Cons:

1. Lack of clarity and focus: Combining NLP and CBT may lead to a lack of focus on either approach. It might cause confusion for clients if not integrated properly, since the underlying principles are not always aligned.
2. Dilution of evidence-based practices: CBT is strongly evidence-based, while NLP lacks robust scientific backing. Integrating NLP with CBT might dilute the evidence-based nature of the program, and some clients might question the scientific validity of the combined approach.
3. Overcomplication: Trying to blend two distinct approaches can sometimes lead to an overly complex program. This could be overwhelming for clients who are looking for a more straightforward approach.
4. Practitioner expertise: Finding a coach who is adequately trained and skilled in both NLP and CBT might be challenging. There’s also the risk of superficial understanding of both approaches.
5. Cost and Time: Combining NLP and CBT might require more sessions or longer engagement, which could lead to higher costs and time investment.

The effectiveness of an NLP and CBT combo can be influenced by factors like the skills and expertise of the coach, the specific needs and preferences of the client, and the way the two approaches are integrated.

(Q.C., 230610)