NLP : Neuro Linguistic Programming for ADHD

First let me say that the idea of NLP in the spectrum of treatment for ADHD was presented to me. I have no personal experience yet with Neuro Linguistic Programming. Though I must admit I am intrigued and decided that given that the purpose of this site is to offer as many options as possible to help parents in the research and treatment of neurological and behavioral disorders facing their children, it was worthy of presentation.

Given that my experience is severely limited at this point, I shall refer you to Wikipedia for a more extensive explanation of the origins of Neuro Linguistic Programming. But I can tell you this...

It appears to be a practice of a specific nature that would likely be most effectively used by someone trained in the "art" of NLP.

On one hand, it sounds simple enough to accomplish. Utilize the notion that in order to be more successful at something (in our kids cases maybe behaving properly) one should imagine or picture in their own minds the very thing they want being accomplished by themselves or someone else whom they perceive as already being successful at said goal.

They will consider all aspects of what makes that person successful already while also integrating how they themselves would feel being successful as well.

OK, so what I just said is VERY general. Truthfully, I find explaining what it is to be difficult to do as it is one of those concepts that one understands when someone else explains it but maybe can't articulate back. At least that is how I feel...

So here comes the "other" hand. There is training for NLP and if you find what you are reading to be very interesting and potentially beneficial to your ADHD child then I suggest you find someone with proof of training to pull this off.

The woman who introduced me to NLP is Pauline from the UK. She has used it in her work with kids like ours and this is what she had to share about her experience :

ADHD - how NLP can give control back to the child.

More than 4 million American children ages 4 to 17 have been diagnosed with ADHD; more than half diagnosed are being treated with drugs. (Source. NCQA - National Committee for Quality Assurance)

Additionally almost 50% of children with ADHD have been suspended from school at some point.


It does not have to be that way. Neuro-Linguistic Programming offers amazing tools for children to take charge of their 'brains' and hence their actions. Misunderstood ...certainly, drug treatment - not necessarily.


J...Was not on my caseload of children at this school, but I needed to wait until lunch was over. I couldn’t believe I had the opportunity to try out this stuff so soon.

I sat with J..., built rapport with him and engaged him in conversation. All the time he was playing with a ‘Rubiks cube’ and giving me virtually no eye contact. During the conversation he told me he had 'kicked off' in class. I went through the process I’d only read about at that time. I asked him about the images, sounds etc. he experienced in his head when he was 'kicking off.'

He told me they were Dexter cartoons , and that the sound was kind of s-l-u-r-r-y. We dealt with his inner images and his slurry sound until he had one fixed colour picture and sound was a normal speed.


As we went through the process and ‘chatted’ he fiddled less and less with the Rubik's cube until finally he placed it on the table in front of him. Wow, he then gave me full eye contact and we just talked a normal conversation.

I told the Headteacher about our experience and she totally took it on board. When a ‘kicking off’ was anticipated she asked him, 'Do you remember the work you did with Mrs. O.? How many pictures do you have now?

He was able to adjust his internal images and calm himself down. With this input and a change of teacher the following year, not only did his exclusion stop - he was able to go on a one-week residential trip with his class.



As you can see, Pauline expressed great success in the use of NLP. She describes more specifically what it is on her website called Happiness Pages.

So, there is all I really know about the subject. I promise to do more research and include anything I find. Given my limited experience, my only advice is as I said before, make sure you go to someone trained and experienced in Neuro Linguistic Programming to get the best care for your child.

Leave NLP and return to traditional treatment.
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