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Arguably, one of the most powerful change techniques in NLP is 'Change Personal History' (CPH). This technique is useful when an individual has experienced a significant emotional event in the past which still continues to impact negatively on their lives in the present. As we know, actual human experience only exists in the present moment, in the form of information received via our five senses. The past exists as stored memories in our unconscious mind. To remember past memories we have to re-experience them in some way in the present. Unfortunately for negative events, we tend to re-experience them as we did at the time and are not always able to benefit from knowledge or resources we may have gained since. CPH allows an individual to re-evaluate memories of significant emotional events in the light of present knowledge. This is a surprisingly simple process to use, and is a regular resource used in hypnotherapy and NLP Practices throughout Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire.

So How Does CPH Work?

All human beings have a vast store of past experiences that exist as memories in the present. Whilst it is not possible to change what has already happened, it is possible to change the meaning it now holds and in turn the impact it has on the persons state and behaviour. During the CPH process the client is asked to identify resources, which if they had access to them at the time of the event, would have meant the event would not have been a problem for them. These resources are then anchored and the individual is able to share these resources with their younger self who experienced the initial significant emotional event. The practitioner guides the client to re-live the event with the benefit of these resources, (the practitioner fires of the anchor whilst the client is associated into re-living the event). The client is encouraged to notice the changed responses in other people involved in the event and if they wish they can also share the resources with these people. The client is encouraged to verbalise what they felt unable to say at the time to others involved in the event and even to imagine the perspective of others involved in the event and any responses they may give. CPH is a change technique which can totally transform the meaning a past experience holds for the client, freeing the client to let go of emotional pain, creating an empowering positive future. CPH is just one of many NLP techniques used By NLP Hemel Hempstead, an NLP and hypnotherapy practice based in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire.