Two NLP techniques come up more than any others: the fast phobia cure (also called the visual-kinaesthetic dissociation, or V-K dissociation) and the swish pattern. Both use imagery. Neither has strong research behind it.
The fast phobia cure, in outline
The aim is to help someone think about a frightening experience without being overwhelmed. In outline:
- Create a safe place. The person pictures themselves somewhere comfortable.
- Watch from a distance. They imagine sitting in a cinema, watching a black-and-white film of the frightening event, as if from far away.
- Dissociate further. They imagine watching themselves watching it.
- Run it quickly. They run the film through to the end and then run it rapidly backwards in colour.
- Test. They think of the trigger and notice how they feel.
The idea is that distance and speed loosen the link between the memory and the fear.
The swish pattern, in outline
Used for habits and unwanted urges:
- Identify the cue, the image or situation just before the habit starts.
- Create a desired self-image, a bright, attractive picture of the person without the habit.
- “Swish” the two: the cue picture shrinks and fades as the desired picture grows and brightens, quickly, several times.
The aim is to attach a new response to the old cue.
What the evidence says
- Both techniques are untested in large, well-designed trials. In the 2012 systematic review of NLP and health (Sturt and colleagues), the few studies covered conditions including anxiety and claustrophobia during MRI scans. They were small, and the authors rated risk of bias as high or unclear.
- Both resemble techniques with better support. Looking at a feared thing from a safe distance is similar to graded exposure, which is the best-supported treatment for phobias. Imagery rehearsal and mental rehearsal are used widely in sport and clinical psychology.
- NLP’s claim of a cure in minutes is not supported by trial evidence.
What works for phobias
Exposure-based CBT has the strongest evidence for specific phobias, often within a few sessions. Hypnosis is a possible add-on (see hypnosis series, part 13), but the evidence for it alone is weaker.
Cautions
- Traumatic memories need care. Reviewing a distressing event without support can make some people worse. If a fear comes from trauma, work with a qualified clinician.
- Don’t treat serious phobias alone. A phobia that limits your life deserves proper assessment.
- Beware “cure” promises. Honest practitioners talk about helping, not curing.
The bottom line
The fast phobia cure and swish pattern are imaginative and may help some people, probably by borrowing from exposure and imagery rehearsal. But they have not earned the word “cure”, and for a real phobia, exposure-based CBT is the safer bet.
Next in the series: NLP vs CBT: What’s the Difference, and Which Is Better?
This article is for general information and is not medical advice.