Author: nlpnowcom

The TOTE model was developed in 1960 (published in Plans and the Structure of Behavior) by psychologists Eugene Galanter, Karl Pribham and George Armitage Miller (click to see other works of Miller) to describe and explain human behaviour, and takes further the S-R or Stimulus Response model, or the work of Pavlov which describes human behaviour in terms of conditioning, that is a stimulus generates a response.

Everything that we do or undertake will involve a TOTE or a strategy, we will have a way of doing something, be it combing our hair, pulling on a jumper, creating a painting, baking a chocolate cake, and the TOTE model has been adopted by NLP to describe how we do, how we achieve, what we do, or our strategy of doing an action.

The acronym of the model TOTE, stands for :-

                                                        T      test
                                                        O     operate
                                                        T      test
                                                        E      exit

and anything we do will involve a TOTE.

Consider that we wish to travel from London to Rome, we will have a Present Position (PP), i.e. London, and a Desired Position (DP), i.e. Rome.
                                                                PP
                                                                     DP

What we are aiming to do is to make our PP (present position), equal to our DP (desired position), instead of being in London we want to be in Rome.

So when we are standing in London,

1. We apply the first T (test), and the question could be “are we there yet?“. 


2. No we are not, so we have to do an O (operation), start walking, catch a plane.


3. We then as we journey along apply another T (test) and ask the question “are we there yet?”.


4. We continue looping around steps 2 and 3, the Operation and Test, until we reach Rome, then,


5. We E exit.

The same model can be used for state, PS present state to DS desired state.

Maybe we are in an unhappy state and want to be in a happy state. So :- 

1. We apply the first T (test), and the question could be “am I happy?“. 


2. No we are not, so we have to do an O (operation), start watching a comedy film.


3. As we watch we apply another T (test) and ask the question “am I happy?”.


4. We continue looping around steps 2 and 3, the Operation and Test, until we are happy, then,


5. We E exit.

Then the Present State/Position will equal the Desired State/Position.

If (E) the exit is not reached, or the Present State/Position does not equal the Desired State/Position, then there will be a problem, the action will never be able to stop with satisfaction, and this can develop into a compulsive behaviour disorder, like continually washing the hand after visiting the toilet, or returning home to check if the door is locked, or the light is turned off.

To solve a compulsive behaviour disorder the NLP Practitioner will need to find an (E) exit or trigger that will give the client a resolve or satisfaction, to stop the action.

Eliciting strategies will enable the discovery of what can be changed to get resolve or satisfaction.

In previous articles in this blog, we have seen that the Map is not the Territory, and that when we think about a cat sitting on a mat, the cat and mat will be different for each and every person.

What we understand of the world we exist in, our experiences, are influenced by our beliefs, culture, values, likes and dislikes and our previous experiences. The context or content of our understanding.

If I say the word “holiday“, you will bring back a memory, see a picture in the mind of a previous holiday, maybe of a Caribbean exotic holiday, a skiing holiday, a family holiday is Blackpool (well known holiday resort in the UK). But, if you have never been to the Caribbean, skiing or to Blackpool, you would not have even thought of them, you will create your own holiday.

Even if you had been to the holidays above, would you have had the same experiences as me? Would you have seen the same things? Even if we had done the same things at the same time, we would have had different understandings, different memories. See previous blogs on George Miller and how the mind deletes, distorts and generalises.

It is said :-      The meaning of an experience is dependent upon the context.

By reframing we can change the way we see, understand or perceive an event or belief, and thus change the outcome, meaning or understanding.

If the meaning or understanding changes, the response that we give will change too, as in the articles on CBT and HCBT as with NLP, they seek to change the way the client understands the now, the situation.

A reframe can be in the form of a joke. My wife is a martial artist in cooking, one chop and you are dead. It makes the listener rethink, put another meaning on what is believed or initially thought.

If as a practitioner you can give a client who had only one belief, another alternative belief to consider, then the client has choice.

Perhaps the only way to get to the shops is to go by car, you know no other way, and if the car breaks down, how are you going to get to the shops? The only way you know is to travel by car.

If I show you a way to get to the shops by bus, now you have two ways.

If I show you a way by walking, now you have three ways.

If I show you a way ………

In other words, the more choices we have in the way we believe or think about something, the better we have in coping with that something or situation.

That yes, a client may think that the aircraft they are about to get on will crash, if we can give a stronger alternative belief that the aircraft is safe, and that they will enjoy the experience, that belief will take hold and they will fly.

We can do this by reframing, changing the context or content of the belief,  by changing the idea, belief  or frame of reference, by issuing another statement giving the original belief a new meaning, the outcome will change.

Examples.

“I am told I am bad, I am a control freak.” Reframe, “You must be good at organising a diner party”

    Belief change, “It is good to be a control freak sometimes.”

“Nobody loves me, nobody telephones me.” Reframe, “At least you get a good nights sleep, no phone calls at 2 in the morning.”

    Belief change, “Poor, guy, he gets calls all through the night, and a poor nights sleep.”

NOTE

See Context Reframing  and Content Reframing

In recent days, reports were published regarding the effectiveness of anti depressants, (see blog)  Prozac, Seroxat, Effexor and Serzone, do they work?

These studies were undertaken in the UK, USA and Canada by leading researchers including Prof. Irving Kirsh, from the department of psychology at Hull University (UK), and Guy Sapirstein, and published in the journal PLoS (Public Library of Science) Medicine, titled ‘Listening to Prozac but hearing placebo’ stating that when all research data was brought together, it appeared that patients who had taken antidepressants had improved, but then those taking a placebo or sugar pill improved just as much.

So where does this leave Alternative Therapies as against antidepressants?

There are so many “alternative therapies” out in the world NLP, hypnotherapy, TA, Gestalt, CBT, HCBT (Click for descriptions of therapies) and many, many more. It has been reported that there are perhaps more than 400 different therapies.

Taking antidepressants such as Prozac, seemed to the reteachers to have effect only on those clients who had or were in deep depression, with little or no effect on those with mild depression.

Taking Prozac, et al, also can give sufferers unwanted side effects, and it has been stated that, the occurrence of individual side effects in depressed subjects treated with fluoxetine (Prozac) and each comparator antidepressant have not been systematically investigated, but it has been reported by individual patients of having, insomnia, agitation, tremor and anxiety, and gastrointestinal adverse events, such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, weight loss and anorexia. (Brambilla P, Cipriani A, Hotopf M, Barbui C. Department of Pathology and Experimental Medicine, Section of Psychiatry, University of Udine, Udine, Italy. March 2005).

Why are antidepressants given by our doctors? They are easy to administer, the patient believes that they are taking a treatment to cure their state of depression, the pills are cheap, and being that in our society, many GP’s (General Practitioner – doctors), are only allocated a set time per patient, perhaps ten minutes, they have no time to offer alternative treatments.

So cost is major factor, as is time. But as shown by the report of Prof. Irving Kirsh, belief is perhaps the key to the success of the drugs, the belief of the patient that they are getting a treatment, known as the placebo effect.

Other alternative treatments can involve  NLP, hypnotherapy, TA, Gestalt, CBT, CBH, etc, and typically a “therapist” would be with the client for say one hour per session, and in most treatments, the sessions between the therapist and the client will be spread over a number of weeks, costing money. Time a GP does not have and cannot take, and cannot allocate from tier budgets.

 NLP, hypnotherapy, TA, Gestalt, CBT, CBH, et al, have been found to be an effective treatment for many psychological problems, but they are not a panacea, a cure all, an answer for anything, there is a place for drugs, for operations, and one treatment may be better than another in certain situations.

It depends upon the willingness of the patient or client to make a change in themselves, for example I cannot stop a person to stop smoking if they do not wish to.

I am often asked, “I want you to stop my partner smoking“. I ask, “Do they want to stop? If they don’t, then I can’t make them.”

It depends upon the knowledge of the “therapist” or “practitioner”, and their ability to use the skills they have learned.

It depends upon the congruence or trust between the client and practitioner. If the client does not trust or believe in the treatment or practitioner, then it will be very difficult.

“But where is the evidence?” This is a statement made by some people especially the medical profession, where everything needs to be evidence based, treatments have to be researched, documented and published. Well antidepressants had been prescribed on evidence based research, but most of the contrary evidence was not conveniently taken into consideration, as with Prozac, Seroxat, Effexor and Serzone and more.

Alternative therapies have been given throughout human existence, but especially with people such as Mesmer, Braid, Freud, Jung, Fritz Perls and more, each having their own understanding and methods of treatments.

Now, this is it, each works in their way, some yes better than others. For me I have studied at a deep level many treatments, including NLP, hypnotherapy, hypnosis, Reiki, TA, Gestalt, CBT, HCBT (Click for descriptions of therapies) etc, and so far they seem to work with no side effects and they are quick and last. I use what is appropriate at that time to me and the client. Each treat
ment seems to borrow from the next, some are exactly the same as another treatment but has been given another name. 

Evidence? I will supply names of clients. If you want treatment from a practitioner, ask for references.

By the way, the best way to get out of depression is, firstly know there is depression, to take exercise, laugh, start to enjoy life, and change the state.

If you need help, and want to consider NLP, Hypnotherapy, HCBT or just want to talk, call on (UK) 0845 130 6213, Skype me @ NLPNOW, or email [email protected]. I can visit you, no matter where you are, for that one session to put you on the road you wish to travel.