NLP or Neurolinguistic Programming fits among some of the other most important healing tools of our day, such as Homeopathy, hypnosis, and energy healing. Neuro Linguistic Programming was founded by UC Santa Cruz Linguistics Professor John Grinder, Phd., and Gestalt therapist and student Richard Bandler in the 1970's at the University of California, Santa Cruz. Important contributors to NLP include Robert Dilts, Todd Epstein, Judith DeLozier, Carmen Bostic St. Claire, and many others.

The original models of NLP included Milton Erickson, Virgina Satir, Fritz Perls, and Moshe Feldenkrais among others. Carlos Casteneda served as an important early influence. Gregory Bateson, author of Steps to an Ecology of Mind, guided much of the early work. By integrating the tools of many of these geniuses, they have helped many people heal old problems and transform people allowing individuals to become peak performers, achievers, and livers of life with greater joy and excellence.

Basic ideas such as repoir, represenational systems, and modeling have become a part of most management and behavioral training operations. Grinder and Bandler published many influential books in the 1970's and each continued to develop nlp in different directions since that time. In recent years, other influential contributers such as Judith Delozier and Robert Dilts, have influenced and impacted the field. Important books in the early years of NLP included Re-framing, Theraputic Metaphors, and And They Lived Happily Ever After. Among the more well known nlp techniques include reframing, language patterns, and eye accessing cues.

The foundation of the ethical use of NLP is allowing the client's own unconscious to choose the goal or desired result, rather than the therapist or guide. Over the years, more and more brilliant, thoughtful, and creative individuals have brought their personal gifts and abilities to the project, resulting in a quickly evolving system of personal improvement and excellence.