I have just spent a great weekend in the company of Doug O'Brien and a whole load of other weird and wonderful people:-) Now, I thought I was familiar with SoM patterns, at least at a superficial level, having first listened to Doug's CDs and then having researched them further, but (sic) I can tell you that until I had attended the seminar I didn't really get them. I may have had an intellectual grasp, but what Doug does very well is take the students through a range of exercises to really start one down the path of internalising the patterns. He then leaves you with ideas and approaches for practice in daily life for internalising them further.

I really recommend that you take this seminar if you get the chance. My own interest stems from the fact that I train people in de-escalation skills and non-physical intervention in the management of violence and aggression. Although the teaching style is not just light hearted (at times it was downright hysterical), Doug emphasises the breadth of application of these language patterns along with the critical ecology necessary for their effective delivery.

As a trainer, Doug's relaxed style belies the rapport he rapidly develops with his students. Gentle misdirection (in a conjuring sense) throughout the seminar allows for discrete open and closing of loops, along with plenty of demonstration of other language patterns and conversational hypnosis. I'm still "unpacking" the experience, but there was much learning to do with core NLP concepts as well as the SoM patterns. I'm not a course junky... I choose courses that I believe will develop skills that I can usefully apply in life and in work. This was one of the best choices I have made.