The Brooklyn Program:
Using NLP with Addictions

The Brooklyn Program is a 16 week drug treatment program for federal offenders in Brooklyn, NY. Since 1997, the program has provided NLP–based treatment for mandated offenders. The Brooklyn Program is rooted in the ideas of personal growth developed by Abraham Maslow and Carl Jung. It uses basic NLP techniques (submodality analysis, anchoring, and smart outcomes) synergistically to create positive affective states that model classical spiritual experience and to constellate a deep, centered sense of Self. In the course of the program participants learn to use anchored resources to regulate mood and attain meditative states. As time goes on, they use an anchored sense of the deep Self to create a highly personalized, motivating future. Participants report enhanced choice, positive outlook, and no desire to use drugs. Overall, participants who complete the program are less likely to abuse drugs in the future than are non–conpleters. Program results are compatible with neurophysiological models of spiritual experience as reported by Newberg, d’Aquili and Rause in their 2001 book, Why God Won’t Go Away. The presentation will include theoretical and experiential elements.

Richard M. Gray, PhD. is a Substance Abuse Treatment Coordinator for the Federal Probation, Brooklyn, New York. He also teaches Psychology at Brookdale Community College, Lincroft, N.J. Gray received his PhD. at the Union Institute, Cincinnati, OH (1993): MA from Fordham University, Bronx, NY (1983); and BA from Central College, Pella, IA (1970). He is a Master Practitioner of NLP and Certified Ericksonian Hypnotist. He is the author of Archetypal Explorations (Routledge, 1996), and multiple articles.