Applications
By now you are probably aware that there are many applications of Clean Language. Here are some:
- Establishing rapport
- Coaching
- Counselling
- Personal development
- Improving personal relationships
- Interviewing (Caitlin Walker trains police officers in Clean Language to help them interview vulnerable witnesses without asking leading questions)
- Conflict resolution
- Team Building: developing an understanding of other team members and developing a shared understanding of the team’s vision for the future
Being ‘clean’ in NLP processes
Many NLP techniques make use of a standard metaphor that is traditionally associated with the technique, for example, the ‘Circle’ of Excellence.
Using these techniques, the Practitioner generally assumes that the client shares their understanding of that metaphor and also buys in to it. Some clients do not like the idea of stepping into an imaginary circle. In one instance, the client could not do so because the circle kept moving!
It is possible to use Clean Language to develop a metaphor that suits the client better (while maintaining the essential useful structure of the technique). In this way, the facilitator can guide them in a way that more fully honours the client’s map of the world.
Another example is in the use that NLP makes of anchoring, either the present state or a resource state, or both. Using Clean Language questions to help a client develop a metaphor for a resource state will increase the strength and efficacy of the kinaesthetic anchor that the facilitator uses with the client.
“It is the client who knows what hurts, what direction to go, what problems are crucial, what experiences have been deeply buried… unless I had a need to demonstrate my cleverness and learning, I would do better to rely upon my client for the direction of movement in the process.”
Carl Rogers
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