Dear Friend of NLP:

Want to know what’s really new in NLP? Here is the latest from the NLP Research and Recognition Project.

We can bring NLP into the news limelight NOW. Our 5-veteran pilot study of the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Treatment Protocol has had excellent results for our veterans. We believe the treatment protocol has the potential to become a standard treatment for military veterans with PTSD.

The US Veterans Affairs Department has stated that PTSD is the most common mental health problem among returning veterans, with 15% reporting symptoms. Already 197,074 vets have received treatment.

We need to extend the study to 30 veterans to publish the results this winter. This is a big step in getting NLP recognized for what it contributes to the health and well-being of many people. Media coverage of this publication will put NLP and this Research Project in the high-profile news immediately. (Check out the exciting story of the study - attached.)

If this 30-person research project proves successful in treating PTSD, this could very well gain NLP its first widespread “positive” public recognition. Imagine seeing and hearing that story on the evening news!

We have raised $30,000 so far and need another $70,000 to complete the study. We are now asking a number of veterans’ organizations and the NLP community world-wide for help.

So, please send $10, $50 or whatever you can….NOW. Your tax-deductible donation will make a difference. Go to http://www.NLPRandR.org to donate.

We are working hard to get NLP recognized!!! To see what we have done so far Go to this link, a page on this site.

All the best,

Frank Bourke, Ph. D and the Research Project Team.
Steve Andreas, Rich Liotta, Richard Gray, Lisa Wake, Bob Salluzzo,
E-mail: fpmc1000@hotmail.com Web: http://nlprandr.org

Frank Bourke and Richard Liotta authored the chapter in the book on the NLP Research and Recognition Project.

David Bowman, of Crown House Publishing, announcing the launch of the book, wrote:

You are cordially invited to the launch of Innovations in NLP, a collaborative venture designed to bring together in one book some of the major new developments in NLP. All the contributors’ royalties from the book are being donated to the NLP Research and Recognition Project, a venture which is being conducted by Richard Liotta and Frank Bourke and which they talk about in their contribution to Innovations.

Since its launch in 2006, the Project has attracted increasing support, reflecting the widespread frustration felt both within and outside the NLP community at the lack of scientific research into and evidence for the effectiveness of NLP. Frank felt this frustration keenly himself in the aftermath of 9/11 when, in his own clinical practice, he helped many survivors using the NLP protocols for the treatment of PTSD but saw thousands of other survivors, being treated by other clinicians, who could have been helped in this way and were not. Frank’s is a fascinating story, moving from his own first encounter with NLP in the mid 70s and his realization that it was the largest advance in psychotherapy in 50 years, to having to abandon his research into the subject shortly afterwards and his reawakening to its power during his nine months of work with 9/11 survivors and his treatment of his own terminally-diagnosed case of cancer, in which he used his NLP tools for a year and a half to produce a recovery that was labelled, medically, ‘remarkable’. When he realized he had ’survived’ the cancer and did a life re-evaluation Frank took an oath to do what he could to get NLP researched, recognized and used to its full capabilities. In discussions with other NLP leaders, especially Judith DeLozier and Steve Andreas, NLP R&R was born and he and Richard have been nurturing it ever since.

The launch is taking place during the Saturday (11/19/2011) evening drinks reception at the NLP Conference (5.45pm - 6.30pm) and many of the contributors will be there including Shelle Rose Charvet, Michael Hall, Charles Faulkner, Ian McDermott, James Lawley, Penny Tompkins, Martin Roberts, Nick Kemp, Lisa Wake, Karen Moxom and Patrick Merlevede. We are also delighted to welcome Kimiko Bokura-Shafé, Dr. Masaki Kono and Dr. Hiromi Tamaki from Japan who have written about their pioneering work with cancer patients.

Thank you for your support and we look forward to seeing you there.

Best Wishes,
David

The NLP Research & Recognition Project has begun posting videos on YouTube, and more will be coming soon! The videos below are the first to be posted. The link to the YouTube channel is: www.youtube.com/user/NLPRandR or just click below to view the videos.

Frank Bourke, Ph.D. Interview Part 1:
Frank Bourke, Ph.D. is the Executive Director of the NLP Research & Recognition Project. In this interview Frank discusses what the project is, the aim of the project, and accomplishments to date (10/30/2010).

Frank Bourke, Ph.D. Interview Part 2:

Rich Liotta, Ph.D. Interview Part 1:
Rich Liotta, Ph.D. discusses the NLP Research & Recognition Project with Nick Kemp (10/30/2010). Topics include why it is important for research to be done on NLP, what has been done so far, why this project is important, and how you can get involved. Dr. Liotta is the Director of Organization Communications and Research Team member for the NLP Research & Recognition Project.

Rich Liotta, Ph.D. Interview Part 2:

The Research and Recognition project is working toward developing a well funded program to network, support and participate in the long needed research of NLP and to gather the recognition necessary for its widespread practice. In short, a great deal has been happening! Below some of the primary accomplishments to date will be listed briefly. It is an exciting time for the NLP Research and Recognition Project. The support for the project’s mission and goals among the diverse NLP community is heartening and portends a bright future for NLP, those who practice it, and all those who could benefit if NLP had more wide spread recognition as the valuable technology that it is. We continue to need your support to keep up the momentum, so participate in any way you can!

ACCOMPLISHMENTS TO DATE:

#1. NOT FOR PROFIT INCORPORATION with committed leadership from experienced personnel encompassing business, academic, NLP, research and politics, sufficient to manage a multimillion dollar corporation.

#2. FORMAL SUPPORT of over forty NLP Institutes, two University Departments and more than seven hundred multi talented volunteers.

#3. COMPLETE STATE OF THE ART PTSD RESEARCH SEQUENCE from initial pilot studies to certified training programs of the NPL derived, scientifically researchable, protocol for the treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome, (PTSD) labeled Reconsolidation of Traumatic Memories (RTM). Complete Grant costs out at 15M and contains all the necessary logistics for three years completion.

#4. GRANT SUBMISSIONS The development and submission of four smaller PTSD grant proposals based upon the large, complete research sequence. Two more currently under development.

#5. NLP RESEARCH LIBRARY 1200 article entries, APA formatted.

#6. NLP NEUROLOGY ARTICLE: Professor Rick Gray and Rich Liotta, Ph.D., have written an article based on recent neurological advances in measuring traumatic memories that when published this winter in Traumatology Journal will put “RTM” the
VK-D derived PTSD protocol in the scientific literature.

#7. SOSSEC, a consortium of corporations developing Homeland security infrastructure, has joined the R & R project to their prestigious corporate and academic stable (Carnigie Mellon, Rutgers U., CTC Corp.etc.). Their sponsored proposal to provide research and training on the PTSD Protocol to ” Homeland Security Emergency Responders” was reviewed by the U.S. Army research arm, ARDEC, and recommended for 3.5M funding from the House Appropriations Committee.

#8. NLP WIKI. Lisa Wake, a clinical leader and author from the UK is about to open and “web master” the long awaited NLP WIKI dialogues in order to foster continuing dialogue between the European and American NLP communities with an emphasis on raising research interest and awareness.

#9. NLP RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM: Frank Bourke, representing the Research Project, gave the keynote address at the Second International NLP Research Conference in Wales and the Project has joined the conference for the presentation of NLP research as a supporting member.

#10. ONLINE RESEARCH: Wayne Perry, and the Project Research Committee, has developed and piloted the online software to begin research of long held NLP clinical assumptions about sub-modalities.

#11. BRAIN RESEARCH CENTER: A neuro-psychological research laboratory affiliated with Columbia University has joined with the project to research the RTM treatment protocol for PTSD. Pilot study will begin this Fall.

#12. PILOT NATIONAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE CENTER PHILADELPHIA: Sossec has asked us to present a training proposal in November 2010 for all of homeland securities line staff at the first regional national emergency response Center which will be placed in Philadelphia. The center will house police, firemen, emergency responders and a communication Center to coordinate all federal and state disaster responses.

#13. MARSHALL UNIVERSITY NLP DEPARTMENT: The NLP Center at Marshall University was established in 2009 to develop undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education credits in the field of NLP. To begin operation it requires an endowment of $1 million.

SOME OF THE PROJECTS AWAITING FUNDING:

Library completion and translation
Online research on submodalities
NLP emergency response team
Practitioners Outcome Evaluation
The complete research and certified training materials for PTSD treatment.
NLP WIKI Dialogue

FUNDING DRIVE:

Large foundation grants to new developments such as NLP require the support of the new developments community. To satisfy this need a number of project volunteers, led by Andy Taylor MSW and Rich Liotta Ph.D. developed a funding drive committee and action plan which is about to rollout the initial steps. NLP Institutes and their members currently supporting the project exceed 100,000 people. If only 10% of these current members donate $3.99 a month to help our cause that would create approximately $39,000 a month in additional revenue and more than satisfy Foundation funding requirements and current R & R Project needs.

Frank Bourke will presenting about the NLP R&R Project at the conference.  NLP R&R is also a sponsor of the IASH conference.  IASH has a valuable conference planned and it is recommended that you consider attending! 

Read more about the IASH Conference by clicking on the picture or here: GO TO IASH CONFERENCE SITE.

In the keynote Frank highlighted various aspects of the current status of the NLP Research and Recognition Project. He outlined the seven current Research and Organizational Goals for the R and R Project, our progress toward pacing state of the art psychotherapy research, project accomplishments to date, and the possibilities for funding the goals of the project.

In Frank’s heartfelt address he also made several points to the audience of NLP researchers. For instance he called for NLP researchers to complete what he called the “Missing Models”. He said, “Somewhere between my early NLP training in the 70’s and 9/11, I concluded that the founding fathers of NLP had in their study of Milton Erickson, Virginia Satir, and Fritz Perls failed to model two important skills. The first was the high empathy and genuineness, as defined by Carl Rogers, with which the three of them were able to join with their clients. The second was the skill of Fritz Perls in uncovering a clients ego defenses in a fashion that allowed an ecologically sound, genuine, and congruent transition to higher functioning. I believe, the protocols derived from these two models will produce tools for a life marked by personal congruity, integrity and honesty. Nothing we could do would help NLP more, in my estimation, than to discover these and reflect them in our organizations behaviors and daily lives.”

In summary, In his speech Frank discusses the substantial progress the NLP Research and Recognition Project has made so far, makes recommendation for the NLP community to consider, and spells out the direction that the project is moving. For all involved in, and supportive of, the NLP R & R Project, the adventure continues!

To see all the details read the full text of the presentation, go here: - Keynote Speech-Wales 2010.

If you would like to read the full email that was sent out it is on this site under “Library,” Updating Volunteer Information.

Of course if you never volunteered before, we would welcome your participation in this important project.  The letter as discusses some particular areas where volunteers are needed. 

Steve gave us permission to reprint this article, in its entirety, here. It recently appeared as an appendix in his new ebook Help With Negative Self-Talk, Volume 1.

The article is under the FAQ tab or follow THIS LINK.

When I proposed the project at IASH in 2006, I knew the proposed forty million dollar trust endowment was a necessary accomplishment if the Project were to be a long term viable research and support organization. Clinical Research has become extremely expensive. Currently, our smallest PTSD clinical research pilot study proposal, at Marshall University, costs out at $350,000. The full three-year study aimed at qualifying the NLP PTSD treatment protocol as evidentiary medicine was submitted to The DOD for $15,000,000 dollars. While development costs (upfront cost of producing a grant proposal) generally run between five and fifteen percent, we accomplished these first steps with dedicated volunteers and our personal resources (my wife has a look which provides the full explanation).

Many project developments have occurred since my last update here.  First and foremost, in our sequence of grant developments, the large PTSD treatment grant we were asked to develop for the Department of Defense (as detailed in our last Blog update), was turned down.  We have been asked to submit a scaled down pilot study proposal as a first step. In hindsight, we would never have attempted so ambitious a grant proposal without the DOD invitation.  While it was rejected in its’ complete form,  with normal Washington double speak, its construction leaves us having completed the entire design and collected all the necessary resources to do the entire research,  training and dissemination sequence.  The independent data analysis companies, research experts, clinical trainers, Washington liaisons, University sponsorships, etc. necessary to make such a proposal, have now all coalesced into a research project team who have seen the efficacy of the PTSD treatment protocol in clinical practice and have become deeply committed to the project. The obvious value of the grant proposal, based on their first hand experience and the extent of the national need, has generated many supporters.  While the grants size would have solved all our infrastructure problems and the research put us well on the way to accomplishing the projects ultimate goal of national recognition, the paths to promised lands seldom show themselves as straight lines and are almost always navigated only with plenty of perseverance, flexibility, and hard work.

Despite some disappointments and apparent setbacks, the fact is that we are moving forward on many fronts.  I have been heartened by the commitment of our many supporters and the clear momentum the value of the NLP Research and Recognition Project has created.  I remember stopping in the middle of combing my hair, the morning before I presented the founding proposal for the Project at IASH in 2006 and saying to the mirror, “you’ve got to be kidding me!”  Well amazingly, three years later, in the worst economic conditions since the Great Depression, we find we’ve gone from a possibility to a probability. Now when I look in the morning mirror I just shake my head in disbelief and smile……..The Irish jig and bottle of champagne will wait until the fat lady has sung a couple of bars and a one or two of the Grant proposals being currently circulated are funded but……we’re on the verge….and trying very hard not to break the record for either the longest stay there or never getting past it!

Our major current problem is that our accomplishments have outstripped our capability to support them. Core management staff cannot maintain their regular jobs and give the time necessary to carry on the current Projects needs. The web site, our communication hub, went to information technology hell and has only been recently delivered back alive to us by the NLP archangels, Tsirklin and Liotta. Next we need funding to continue the tremendous progress we have made so far.   

With the web site back working, we have appointed a Volunteer Coordinator, Gene Plotkin (see his bio under Communications & Networking Team section of this site) and a Development Coordinator (see web site for details soon) to put together the next volunteer generation and to continue Foundation funding development to lead us further toward the promised lands. We must gather more volunteer staff to, among other things, continue the NLP Research Library development, Foundation Fundraising, Networking the Institutes into the Project, and enlarging the Project mailing list to 100,000.

Meanwhile the projects already underway must continue growing. Look for more updates and news on this website soon; regarding: Military PTSD Grants, Foundation PTSD Grants, Canada/Israel PTSD Studies, Institute Pilot PTSD Study, Foundation Infrastructure Grants, NLP practitioner fund raiser, Online Sub-modality Research project, Research Library enlargement, NLP Disaster Response Teams, volunteers networking and communications help, national publicity campaign, NLP Institute support and project integration.

As I imagine his brother once said, while standing beside a huge pile of discarded bicycle parts, “Orville I think we may be on the verge of flying this thing!”  We’ll continue to persevere, be flexible, work hard and, if we forgot to mention it, have fun in the process.