NLP Six Step Reframe for Weight Loss

Six Step Reframe for Weight Loss

 

Reframing is the process of helping the client to develop new meanings and understandings about an unwanted behaviour. We can use this session to help the client to identify at least one internal motivation that prompts overeating or unnecessary eating (that is, eating when not really hungry).

This session works on the premise that everything that we do, we do for a reason. In NLP and Hypnotherapy one of the premises is that all parts within an individuals personality serves a positive intention – usually satisfying basic human physical and emotional needs, values and beliefs. In theory we could say then that “parts” influence actions and behaviours intended to fulfil positive intentions, even when the intentions are known only at a subconscious level.

Parts sometimes prompt unwanted or hurtful or self harming behaviours in attempts to satisfy these positive intentions. Ironically, these hurtful behaviours often cause the very problems they are intended to prevent. Often as in the case of overeating, the positive intention may be to provide comfort or to relieve stress. Even though wolfing down a packet of chocolate biscuits can bring momentary sense of well being or pleasure, the after math result of regret and disgust can be very uncomfortable, and the resulting weight gain can be a source of additional discomfort and stress. 

The six step reframe helps you and the client contact the clients “part of self” responsible for overeating, identify the positive intention behind overeating or binging and persuade that part to choose alternatives to overeating. 

I like to tell my clients that this is a method that takes all the energy attached to overeating and channels that energy in a new, healthier direction. 

Session 

Explain that the purpose of this session is to help the client identify the underlying reasons for overeating or binging. This method enhances the clients ability to control runaway eating patterns. It helps the client examine an unwanted behaviour or habit from a new perspective, and metaphorically, to communicate with a part of self that is causing the problem behaviour. Here are the steps. Note: For each step ask the client to close their eyes, complete the step and then open their eyes. 

1. Identify the part 

a. Introduce the “parts” frame.

Sometimes when people repeatedly do things they regret, or wish they didn’t do, but they can’t seem to stop themselves, we could say that a “part of self” is prompting the unwanted behaviour. I want to teach you a method for contacting the part of yourself that has led you to over eat the wrong kinds of foods, identify the parts positive intention for you, and ask that part to find alternative ways to satisfy the intention, so that you can channel that energy in more positive directions. 

b. Teach the client how to establish inner contact with the part. 

In a moment I’m going to ask you to relax, close your eyes and mentally invite that part into your conscious awareness, there’s no right or wrong way to do this, it is an intuitive process, so just be open and receptive to your inner experience. The part will make itself known to you in one of many ways. Perhaps it will be an image in your mind, such as a symbol, an object or a memory. Or it might be something you feel on a physical level – a sensation. It might be some inner dialogue – something you say to yourself. Whatever you experience will be just fine. Now make yourself comfortable, take a deep breath, relax, close your eyes and go ahead. When you have some indication from that part, just let me know.

2. Establish Yes from the part. – Ideomotor Signalling or get client to talk.

a. Help the client establish communication with the part. 

Ask the part if it is willing to communicate with you, and let me know the answer

3. Identify the Positive Intention

a. Ask the client to reconnect with the part and find out the positive intention behind overeating. 

Close your eyes and connect with the part and ask the part to tell you the positive intention behind your overeating. In other words, what does the part want to do for you by causing you to over eat? What is it trying to give to you? Just relax now and let the answers come to you. Whenever you’re ready just open your eyes and let me know. 

(Sometimes the clients response will indicate a very clear, logical intention. At other times the clients response is vague and seemingly irrelevant. In the latter case it is up to you to help the client flesh out the meaning of the response and figure out the positive intention. Somehow there usually is a connection) 

(Sometimes the client gives a response that suggests a negative intention instead of a positive one. Your reply should be “And what would that do for you?” Keep asking until you get a positive intention. For example a client once said to me that the intention of over eating was “to make me die”. When I then asked “What would dieing do for you?” her reply was, “So I could go to heaven and be happy”. I then inquired, “Are there other ways for you to go to heaven without having to over eat? Are there other ways to be happy now, without having to wait until you die?”.

4. Help the client find alternatives to satisfy the positive intention.

a. Explain to the client that parts often get stuck in a rut, using ineffective or harmful methods to satisfy a positive intention and not knowing what else to do. Tell the client that you are going to give that part instructions so that it can access the client’s inner resources- such as creativity, intuition, and inner wisdom – and can consider alternatives to overeating.

 

Now as you relax and reconnect with that part. It may seem the same or it may seem different somehow. We want this part to understand that overeating does not solve the problem or satisfy the positive intention, and overeating in this way is actually harmful and unhealthy. So now this part has an opportunity to do its job more effectively, with more flexibility.

Tell this part you are giving it full access to your inner resources, such as your creativity, your intuition, and your inner wisdom, so that it can begin to learn more than ever before. The part can access these inner resources right now, even as I am speaking to you. As this part is learning and improving, it can begin to create a list of additional ways to accomplish that positive intention – healthy, convenient ways to do it… numerous options and alternatives to overeating, so that overeating is no longer the only choice….and that energy gets channelled into more positive directions for you.

As that part of yourself begins to register all these options and alternatives, it can select three of those options and bring them into your conscious awareness for your review and approval. So when those three selections….those alternatives….are available to you….open your eyes.

b. Wait quietly while your client completes this step. When the clients eyes are open, ask about the three selections. Evaluate with the client whether these selections are realistic and suitable for satisfying the positive intention. At least one of these choices should be easy and convenient to do – offering the same ease and convenience as food. Encourage the client to appreciate the creativity that brought these selections forth and to notice how well the part is cooperating.

(Some clients do not think of 3 alternatives. They might instead think of 2 or 1 or maybe more such as 4 or 5. Whatever number they come up with, accept them and tell the client that they are doing good work.)

5. Enter into a contract with the part

 

a. Instruct the client to make a contract or agreement with the part to chose one of the healthier alternatives whenever there is need to fill the positive intention that led to overeating:

 

Close your eyes and relax again and thank that part for selecting those alternatives. Know you have additional ways to take care of yourself and meet your needs. I ask you now to enter into a contract with that part, such that from now on, whenever you need to satisfy that intention (e.g cope with stress, boredom, comfort yourself etc) that part will automatically chose one of these healthier alternatives. In fact should that part require even more flexibility, it can continue to access your creativity, your intuition, and your inner wisdom to arrive at additional healthy, positive choices that will serve your needs and desires.

When this part is in agreement with this contract, nod your head. On the other hand, if that part has any concerns or reservations, open your eyes and lets talk about them.

6. Future Rehearsal

 

a. Have the client mentally review the new alternatives to overeating:

Close your eyes again and thank that part for entering into the contract with you. See images in which you are choosing suitable, healthy ways to take care of yourself. Step into those images one by one and enjoy the new behaviours.

b. Guide the client through possible future scenarios in which he or she is choosing one or more of the alternatives selected in step 4, in order to satisfy the positive intention. For example:

 

Imagine you’ve come home from a hard day at work, and you want to relax and unwind and pamper yourself (the positive intention). You sit down and begin to listen to some of your favourite music or go for a walk (one of the alternatives to overeating). As you close your eyes and relax, a sense of contentment comes over you and all the cares and frustrations of the day seem to melt away and you feel so much more at ease. You are so pleased and satisfied that you have found this method of pampering yourself.