Copyright: 2002

Publisher: Crown House Publishing

Richard Bolstad’s book RESOLVE: a new model of therapy is excellent on several levels and is highly recommended for anyone interested in advancing the science of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) or the use of NLP as a psychotherapeutic practice. It is widely referenced, citing research, insights from other NLP developers, and non-NLP models of change. This is not a book focused on NLP”pyrotechnics(his term), rather it is inclusive and practical. Bolstad makes connections between NLP and other models of psychotherapy. He presents a perspective on the usefulness of NLP as an explanatory model, since the concepts of NLP are useful to explain what the therapist from many orientations do his SOLVE The model is essentially a well-articulated synthesis of the use of NLP in the context of a model of NLP-informed psychotherapy.

The book offers a historical perspective on NLP and psychotherapy. Bolstad points out that the roots and assumptions of NLP have connections to other forms of psychotherapy. She devotes a chapter to providing a clear, science-based link between NLP and brain function. Bolstad analyzes various aspects of the model (representational systems, submodalities, emotional states, etc.) and relates them to what has been learned in recent years about neurological functioning. For example, his discussion of the state-dependent qualities of neural encoding and the implications of this for intervention was fascinating.

Bolstad points out that NLP still needs research to make it more useful to psychotherapists. He points out that this need has been recognized since the earliest writings of NLP, “but it was 20 years before the NLP field itself began to respond effectively to this need.” He goes on to describe several studies published in the last ten years that have examined the use of NLP in psychotherapy and found positive results. But the research supporting that NLP is successful “in a general sense” has not been enough to gain much attention among psychotherapists. He also points out that few attempts have been made to link NLP techniques and those used in other models of psychotherapy since NLP’s inception, with the notable exception of Practical Magic: A Translation from Basic Neuro-Linguistic Programming to Clinical Psychotherapy by Stephen Lankton, published in 1980. Bolstad notes that more than 20 years have passed since Lankton’s book and “both NLP and psychotherapy have evolved.” Clearly, Bolstad feels that more attention to the use of NLP in psychotherapy is warranted. An important achievement of this book is to systematically address how NLP fits into psychotherapy as it is practiced today. Among other things, he advocates the incorporation of NLP interventions in the context of the therapist’s preferred modality to accelerate the achievement of many specific outcomes.

In my opinion, one of the critical points that Bolstad makes relates to what kind of information constitutes data that supports the validity of NLP as a technology of change. While advocating for more clinical research, he also argues that “Because much of NLP is a metadiscipline (a way of analyzing and describing other disciplines), research done in these other disciplines will often validate NLP hypotheses.” (page 6)”. This seems to be a recurring theme, as it draws parallels between what various therapeutic modalities do, many of which have more direct empirical support (than NLP per se), and NLP interventions that use similar processes; just described with a different terminology.

In chapter three, Options for change, maintains that most therapeutic modalities have some variant of the techniques of NLP interventions. Bolstad divides NLP interventions into 10 general categories: anchoring, installing new strategies, shifting submodalities, trance work, part integration, timeline shifts, linguistic reframing, shifting interpersonal dynamics, shifting physiological contexts, and task assignment. He gives examples of the use of these types of intervention and then describes how these processes are evident in other models of psychotherapy. This part of the book was both provocative and inclusive and left me wanting more of this helpful style of analysis. He highlighted how change work can be understood from various modalities using NLP as an explanatory model. This book illustrates what many therapists who use NLP already know, “NLP” is evident in what therapists do, whether they call it NLP or not. Provides information to help therapists trained in other systems begin to see “NLP” in what they do.

Chapter four, the last major section of the book, presents the SOLVE model. The model is an NLP-informed framework for the psychotherapy process. Although the core ideas (such as presuppositions) and skill sets (such as rapport skills) come from NLP, it is clear how their model would be useful to therapists even if they do not use NLP’s change processes. per se. SOLVE is an acronym in which each letter corresponds to a part of the model. The letters denote the following: “R” denotes the witty status the therapist must generate in himself to be able to work more effectively with the client. “E” notes Establish a good relationship. “S” is Specify the result, noting that establishing a well-formed outcome is a central NLP premise for change work. “or” is open [the client’s] model of the world. In a way, this is an intervention, but it is also a preparatory task, testing your commitment to change. “L” in the RESOLVE model is leads to the desired state. This is a specific change intervention or process designed to achieve the specified result. “Screw check change. “e” is ecological outlet. He discusses each component of the model in detail and went on to make connections and place his ideas in the context of the larger field of psychotherapy. The concepts that Bolstad chose to explain and explore were also very useful, practical and compelling.

In the book Bolstad also highlights several points that differentiate NLP techniques from the broader view of NLP in the context of psychotherapy. For example, he points out that NLP techniques are not simply tools to use; they are tools that require context to be most effective. Specifically, he notes that “For someone new to NLP, it is tempting to think of ‘leading’ as the true NLP change process. In fact, each step of the RESOLVE model is equally significant in achieving change. The steps are overlap and reinforce each other, forming a system that dramatically increases the chances of success.

Another point he discusses is that a frequent criticism of NLP and psychotherapy is that NLP fails to understand the importance of the therapeutic relationship. Bolstad argues that, instead, NLP psychotherapy is grounded in a new and innovative framework for this relationship. It is “educational and advisory” rather than therapeutic in the traditional sense. He believes that the way the NLP practitioner structures this relationship is one of NLP’s most original contributions to therapeutic theory. He points out the importance of this relationship to facilitate the effectiveness of the change processes themselves.

In short, this book is awesome. Bolstad’s RESOLVE model is one way of formulating the integration of NLP into psychotherapy and it is very well done. His supporting quotes and reasoning are equally valuable. It is essentially structured like a textbook, packed with references. He points out in his introductory chapter that if he wants to know the research behind what he’s doing, as opposed to just an introduction to NLP, “this book will give you those extra pieces.” The book delivers on this promise. It is packed with helpful information, explanations, and ideas to consider. Psychotherapists, NLP practitioners and trainers, and researchers all need to read this book.