Overlap

A technique for leading a person from their preferred representational system into another system by beginning with their preferred system and gradually introducing language and suggestions from the target system. For example, if a client is primarily kinesthetic, the practitioner might begin with kinesthetic language ('Feel yourself walking along the beach') and then introduce auditory ('...and hear the waves') and visual ('...and see the horizon') elements. Overlap is used in inductions, guided imagery, and any process requiring access to a non-preferred system.