I’m tempted to call this a starter matrix, but it is so fundamental to thinking about problems. This matrix may look simple, but it is very flexible and can be used to formulate very complicated problems, especially if you use it in a mind map format. You can use it for an overview of all the life needs of a client or use it to zero in on a specific problem. It supports holistic and strategic planning. It helps to bring your intent and next best actions into focus. Let’s start with the categories and then an example.

Step 1: Meaning: Examples include stigma, self-concept, vision as a source of goals, and meta-model violations. #

Step 2: Context: people, things, and situations in the person’s environment that affect them. #

Step 3: Behavior: The actual behavior of the person and any plans that have a strong emphasis directly on behavior, such as behavior modification, able to include desired behavioral goals and habits. #

able to focus on ways that developmental issues have created behavior limitations or patterns.

Step 4: Physiology: A focus on what is affecting the client from a biological perspective. #

can include lifestyle factors such as exercise and diet. The more you think in terms of evolutionary psychology and the “internal pressures” that this creates, the more you may find yourself thinking in terms of physiology. As you know, NLP has plenty to say about observing and influencing your client’s physiology while thinking in terms of state management. Both coaches and therapists find that they can think more about physiology as they incorporate reprocessing techniques such as EMDR and EFT into their work. Now try this: Think of a client, or even yourself. On a fresh, blank sheet of paper (or some kind of mind mapping software), put the four categories near the center. From there, you can branch out and add the most important related issues. Continue to branch out until you have actionable items. Here’s an example: The name and some of the details have been changed to protect her privacy: Marcy is 30 and hates her job, loves her husband, hates the way they get into arguments, feels kind of untrusting and judgmental of people, is very bright, is a really good salesperson, is underemployed because her employer isn’t making very good use of her, and really wants to take her life to another level. She has trouble when a lot of little tasks and details come her way because of ADD. She has had counseling for ADD and has been reticent to take medication because it seems kind of creepy to her. Meaning: Mary is generally irked. Underemployment, being overwhelmed with details, and feeling intolerant of people that act petty, boring, or stupid, all make life less satisfying. She loves her husband, but he thinks and speaks in a very step-wise fashion. This is very difficult to tolerate for a person who thinks in hypertext. She realizes, though, that he is bright and successful, and his heart is in the right place. Coaching or counseling will need to help her find a more life-affirming and dynamic way to be a very smart person in a world that can seem pretty dumb. Context: Her need to improve her career is important here, because her context is a major source of her complaints. The results will show up here, but this is not necessarily the category where the real action will be. Changes in her attitude (meaning) and behaviors (behaviors) may be the keys that unlock her career potential or help her convince her employer to make better use of her sales skills, which are excellent. Behavior: Her issues with the rest of humanity show up here in the sense that she does not have very satisfying relationships in her personal life, and she is not sure how to get into harmony with her husband. In addition to working in the meaning category, behavioral strategies may be important. Physiology: Marcy has a lot of youthful energy, but the issues are taking their toll. Nonetheless, she brings a lot of energy to her job, her relationship, and her home projects. ADD has a physiological side, of course, and she will need to learn to cope with it, even if she takes medication. ADD coping methods will go into the behavior category. The prospect of medication, supplements, and other things that address ADD from a physiological angle is discussed here. Here is an example of a plan for someone like Marcy. She has come in for coaching. She has had psychotherapy, and it has been helpful, but she wants to focus on success and lifestyle. Nonetheless, it is very obvious that there are emotional issues and ADD symptoms that loom large. Meaning: Goals: To get from irked to fun and strategic. Getting into harmony with people and her husband. By being fed up with her distracting judcgmentality and impatience, she will probably come up with better strategies for making her relationships more satisfying. By being less distracted by feelings of oppression and under-appreciation at work, she will probably be able to come up with better strategies for her career as well. Methods: Metaphoric, reframing, and other counseling techniques will be helpful. Reprocessing will be more helpful if we can connect with earlier experience that helped to establish her pattern of relating. Timeline work might be very helpful here.