NLP practitioners maintain high standards of professional competence and integrity.

Step 1: NLP practitioners maintain records of their sessions as needed for competent practice, for maintenance of any signed agreements, for reference in case there is a time lag between sessions, for consulting with other helping professionals, billing, and for any other purposes as needed. #

Step 2: NLP practitioners seek professional assistance as needed for any problems that may interfere with their performance or judgment. #

Step 3: NLP practitioners as teachers or presenters, present accurate information from reputable sources. #

Step 4: NLP practitioners develop the understanding necessary to work with people of other cultures. #

The identify the cultural and ethnic background and related needs of their clients so that they may provide effective services.

Step 5: NLP practitioners stay up-to-date in their field through ongoing educational experiences. #

They also get ongoing continuing education that expands their knowledge pertaining to psychology and health, because of the diverse issues that clients bring.

Step 6: NLP practitioners maintain a reputation for honesty, fairness and ethics in their lives. #

They refrain from any kind of harassment, exploitation or illegal activity.

Step 7: NLP practitioners do not provide any services that are outside of their abilities and legal scope of practice. #

Unless qualified and legally sanctioned, NLP practitioners do not treat or offer to treat mental or physical illnesses. While people may improve in these areas as a result of NLP, the practitioner does not promote his or her services as a form of treatment. Promoted services may include training on NLP, including self-NLP, stress management, coaching, and stress management, (barring any legal or ethical concerns).

Step 8: NLP practitioners make sure that any new types of clients they see or skills they use are appropriate from a legal and ethical point of view, and will be performed competently as a result of having the proper training, supervision, consultation or experience as needed. #

Step 9: NLP practitioners do not provide services that will conflict with a person’s psychotherapy. #

The practitioner uses special caution and consideration with a potential client who is receiving psychotherapy. This is because the person may have a mental disorder that places special needs upon any relationship that may result in focusing on memories or goals, or that may induce emotional awareness or deep relaxation. Generally, the practitioner is advised to consult with the psychotherapist before starting sessions. It may be appropriate to proceed when the client is fully able to indicate that they are stable and can tolerate the activities listed in this section, such as experiencing increased awareness.

Step 10: NLP practitioners take reasonable steps to prevent the distortion or misuse of their approach and knowledge, particularly by the media and influential persons. #

This includes steps such as letters to the editor, personal communications, and collective communication from practitioners.

Step 11: NLP practitioners want to affect people and their community in the most positive way possible, and they want to generate and preserve respect for their approach, so they exercise care in their public statements, live or in any medium. #

As part of their ongoing education, NLP practitioners learn how to recognize and engage in rational and ethical rhetoric, debate and public discourse. This includes understanding and avoiding logical fallacies.

Step 12: NLP practitioners only engage in research when they have adequate support, skills and knowledge to do so. #

NLP practitioners do not make public statements as to the results of their research unless they are adequately trained and competent to carry out reliable research. NLP practitioners gain the knowledge pertaining to research, and will only talk about the results of others’ research when they can do so competently and credibly.