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Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to determine if neurolinguistic programming (NLP) tools and techniques were effective in alleviating the symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in clients from the Military and Emergency Services. Design/methodology/approach – This project ran at the “Healing the Wounds” charity in Bridgend. All clients were opportunistic, having self-referred to a charity specifically set up to support Veterans from the Armed Forces. In total, 29 clients from an initial cohort of 106 clients provided pre and post data using Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS) and the NLP Wheel of Life scale. Interventions included a range of NLP techniques, addressing self-reported symptoms. Findings – Differences between DASS scores before and after treatment are very highly significant. t-test analysis infers that these results are indicative of the overall response from the clients in this study. Research limitations/implications – Limitations of the study include: client group; significant levels of incomplete data for the total study group; therapist effect and therapist training; treatment methodology. Originality/value – Data suggest that NLP has potential as a therapeutic tool in the treatment of symptoms of anxiety and depression associated with a self-report of PTSD. An observation is proposed that these candidates experience an improvement in their emotional state when NLP is used which is statistically significant (p<0.001) both for overall DASS score averages and also for each of the three DASS categories (Depression, Anxiety and Stress). Stress was the highest scoring category prior to treatment for these clients; the reduction in their stress symptoms contributed most substantially to the overall reduction in average DASS score, indicating an improvement in their emotional state.

PurposeThis article aims to give an overview of how neuro‐linguistic programming (NLP) has been applied in a fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) environment over a number of years.Design/methodology/approachThe article includes practical examples of how tools have been applied and lessons learnt from integrating NLP into a commercial setting.FindingsThis paper demonstrates that for NLP to be effectively applied it needs to be: paced to organisational needs; paced to stage of development; championed from within; delivered with credibility; and directly relevant to the workplace.Practical implicationsNLP is a “soft skills” tool kit which is not necessarily a business priority and therefore needs to be responsive to organisational needs. NLP jargon needs to be changed to make it readily accessible and understandable for most business people. Organisations are at different stages of development and some tools and techniques within NLP are inappropriate. Champions need to have sufficient leadership credibility for the model to be accepted. Credibility of the trainer is a core requirement – have they “earned their stripes”? Tools and techniques need to be directly relevant to the workplace.Social implicationsAll organisations are reliant on their workforce to deliver business outcomes to a lesser or greater extent. Often training programmes do not directly relate to the competencies required of an employee in a range of contexts or take into account the human factor. NLP provides an evidence based tool kit to harness performance excellence within the arena of soft skills.Originality/valueThe article proposes that NLP can be applied in industrial and commercial environments with success and provides simple examples of how this has worked.

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