Kanttekeninge by die Resultate van ’n Empiriese Ondersoek na die Toepassing van Neuro-linguïstiese Programmering op Kinders in die Suid-Afrikaanse Konteks

Abstract

During the early 1970’s the Neuro-linguistic Programming (NLP) model was established, initially as a therapeutic method. The main aim of the two founding members of the NLP was to identify the therapeutic methods that were used by outstanding psychologists. Eventually the so-called NLP model was developed and this is used today in many fields such as in psycho-therapy with children, in education, in the business world etc. Although the Neuro-linguistic Programming model has been used overseas as a psychotherapeutic model, for a number of decades, it is merely alleged that South African psychologists use NLP in therapeutic sessions. In this article it is attempted to throw light, in an empirical way, upon the concept which South African educational psychologists in particular, and South African psychologists in general, have of NLP as a psychotherapeutic model. Research from the perspective of Christian psycho-education, was conducted to determine the extent that South African psychologists use NLP techniques specifically with children undergoing therapy, which techniques are preferred and why the NLP-model is selected (or not selected). A questionnaire was developed as the research instrument and it was sent to 566 psychologists who were requested to return it. The results and the implications of the findings are discussed from the point of view of a Christian scientist.