The Swish Technique

Developed by Richard Bandler, The Swish technique enables us to quickly dissolve the feelings attached to unwanted thoughts and to deal with un-useful responses (reprogramming the brain to work in a different way.)

In the Swish we replace the unwanted thought or response with a more useful and appropriate one because 'the swish' gives new instructions to the brain.

Often the Swish is used to break habits such as compulsions to eat chocolate, smoke cigarettes, bite finger nails, etc. After the using the Swish pattern, the client will still have the option for doing the behaviour, they just won't feel compelled to do it anymore.

The technique in practice:-



1.  Think of a behaviour or response you’d rather not have (for example, unwanted habit)

2.  Identify a 'Cue' image for a situation that triggers the response.  What is it that you respond to? How do you know when to have the unwanted response or reaction? Ask yourself what actually occurs just before the negative or unwanted state begins? (It helps if this is a visual picture in your mind.)

3.  Now imagine how you would be if you didn’t have this habit or unwanted behaviour, as if you were the kind of person who felt this was not an issue for you.  Ask yourself  'How do I really want to be instead?'.

4.  Imagine a new you; a more resourceful, confident and capable version of you.  A new you who is free from the negative response you no-longer want.  You don’t have to know how you got that way, just enjoy this new positive feeling.

5.  Enhance the detail and the quality (the submodalities) of this image until it is very compelling. Make the feeling brighter, louder, faster, etc.

6.  Put a frame in front of you and put your original 'Cue' image into  it.  In the corner of this frame place the resourceful image, shrink it so it ends up around the size of a postal stamp (it will now be small and dark.)

7.  Now you will make both of the images change simultaneously in one fast, powerful movement, the large 'cue' images becomes small and dark, and the resourceful image becomes big and bright. Say 'Swish' as you do this.


8.  Repeat the swish around 10 times, between each swish make the frame go blank.  Each time you swish, speed it up until you are swishing within a second.

9.  Test to see if you can restore the 'Cue' picture.   If you find it either wont come back or the image is dark and dim, then the swish has worked.  If not start again (you may need to check which submodalities are prominent in your cue picture and ensure these are added to your more resourceful you image.)




Good Luck with the technique and let us know how you get on with it.