Timeline Therapy & Change Work Flashcards

Which of the following best describes a 'Limiting Decision' in NLP Timeline Therapy?

Answer: A decision made in the past, often during a significant emotional event, that now restricts a person's map of the world

A Limiting Decision is a conclusion drawn during a past event (often at the root cause) that has since become a generalized rule limiting the person's possibilities.

In Timeline Therapy, which 'negative emotion' is specifically connected to incomplete or unresolved past events where something was prevented from happening?

Answer: Sadness

Sadness in Timeline Therapy is classically associated with loss or something that was desired but prevented from occurring.

A practitioner asks a client to 'go back to before the first event' before releasing a negative emotion. What is the purpose of this instruction?

Answer: To anchor a neutral or positive state before approaching the root cause

Positioning the client before the first event establishes a resourceful, neutral reference point from which to safely view and release the root cause.

What is the role of the 'Higher Self' or 'unconscious mind' during a Timeline Therapy change session?

Answer: To locate the root cause and carry out learnings, making the process more efficient and ecological

Engaging the unconscious mind (often called the Higher Self in this context) allows the process to work at the level where change actually occurs, making it faster and more complete.

In NLP 'Through Time' orientation (also called 'In Time' by some schools), how is the timeline typically arranged spatially?

Answer: From left (past) to right (future), running in front of the person

A Through Time (or sequential) orientation typically has past on the left and future on the right, laid out in front of the person so all time can be seen at once.

When a client successfully completes Timeline Therapy for anger, what should the practitioner check NEXT before ending the session?

Answer: Whether any limiting decisions associated with the anger events also need to be released

Significant emotional events often generate limiting decisions at the same time, so after clearing the emotion the practitioner checks for and addresses associated limiting decisions.

What is the significance of gathering 'learnings' from a root cause event during Timeline Therapy before releasing the emotion?

Answer: It preserves the positive intention and wisdom encoded in the experience, allowing ecological release

The unconscious mind stores events to protect the person; gathering learnings honors that purpose so the emotion can be released without losing the valuable information.