Words That Harm, Words That Heal - by Garner Thomson
In this extract from his book "Magic In Practice", Garner Thomson gives GPs and other medical professionals an insight into how the way they behave and speak can make a vulnerable patient highly susceptible to suggestion.
Garner Thomson
Author of "Magic In Practice"
Forcible or surreptitious "thought-changing" is popularly regarded as brainwashing. Commonly associated with extreme political groups and cults, heightened suggestibility is also known to be induced by trauma, fear and confusion. The late Margaret Thaler Singer and Janja Lalich identified a number key prerequisites to successful thought-changing.
Simply put, thoughts, values, behaviour, allegiance and beliefs may be substantially altered in conditions where the subject is deprived of his or her own clothing, familiar foods, timetable and sense of control. The effect is magnified when the victim is exposed to, but often excluded by, a highly specialised language, is required to submit to the 'wisdom' of a superior "sacred" science, is discouraged from asking questions or making objections, and is constantly aware the perceived authorities have the power of life or death.
Now compare these conditions with what can happen when a patient is facing a challenging consultation, has been admitted to hospital or is facing a battery of complex tests. Food, clothing and contact with the outside world may be strictly controlled. The 'experts' use unfamiliar and distinctive terminology derived from an arcane science. Sometimes the patient is kept in the dark about the significance of medical or surgical procedures. The doctors and nurses may be perceived as mysterious and powerful figures with the authority to decide who lives or dies. Questioning or criticism, especially of senior clinical personnel, is discouraged or ignored.
If we assume that these conditions have the potential significantly to increase the patient's susceptibility to suggestion, consider the potential impact of some of the phrases collected by (real) patients from the practitioners:
- This is very serious surgery and there are risks attached to it. You will experience pain afterwards and it will be several weeks before you'll be able to move around comfortably. (A surgeon to a pre-surgical patient)
- You can't possibly be ready to deliver. You're not in enough pain, yet. (A midwife to a woman in labour)
- People who take this medication often have dizziness or tingling in the hands and feet. Read the list of other side-effects inside the box and tell your doctor about any others you get. (A pharmacist dispensing a prescription)
All the professionals above would argue that their intentions were impeccable and that they were obliged by law to deliver the information contained in their statements - and we would agree. However, in the light of everything discussed so far, we would strongly caution all health practitioners to assume that the patient in front of you is in an altered and highly suggestible state, and proceed accordingly.
All the medico-legal requirements of informed consent, "safety netting" (instructions given to the patient for action to be taken should the condition worsen or persist) and discussion of side-effects can be met and simultaneously tempered by the judicious use of positive semantic priming and 'hypnotic' suggestion. Accomplishing this easily and elegantly requires planning and practice. We advise you to write out as many examples as possible; this makes it easier to tailor the language patterns to the individual patient and to deliver them confidently and effortlessly.
Spend some time on the following exercises before proceeding on to the next chapter. But, just before doing that, compare the statements above with the re-cast versions below:
- The surgeon: "This is serious surgery and there are risks, but we have a highly trained and experienced team looking after you. Some people have some pain afterwards, but it may well be less than expected, and we'll do everything we can to have you up and about as soon as possible."
- The midwife: "Not everybody's as relaxed as you seem to be when they're ready to deliver, and you seem really comfortable. Let's check and see how close you are now so we can make sure it continues to go smoothly."
- The pharmacist: "I think you'll find this really helps. Some people who take this have dizziness or tingling in the hands and feet, but most people find it very easy to take. The drug companies list all possible side-effects, even when only one or two people might have had them. Read the list and tell your doctor about any you might have, but most people have only good results."
Garner Thomson, NLP Master Practitioner and Trainer, and founder and training director of the Society of Medical NLP, is the creator of the Medical NLP programme taught to doctors, psychologists, psychiatrists, nurses, allied health professionals and medical students since 1996. Trained in NLP by Dr Richard Bandler, and with a background in psychology, communications, Ericksonian hypnotherapy and trans-cultural and integrative health-care approaches spanning more than 30 years, he also runs a busy Medical NLP and Hypnotherapy practice in London, mostly by referral from doctors in primary and secondary care. He writes and lectures widely, and appears on radio and television, both as presenter and guest. He is the author of Magic in Practice, Introducing Medical NLP – The Art and Science of Language in Healing and Health (Hammersmith Press 2008), editor of Richard Bandler’s Guide to Trance-formation (HCI and HarperCollins 2009), and co-author with Dr Bandler of the forthcoming book, Living Up – The Technology of Hope, Health and Happiness.
Order your copy of MAGIC IN PRACTICE from our bookshop.
- Login to post comments
