If you work in rehab, return-to-work, or injury management, you already know that recovery isn’t just about bodies – it’s about mindset. And the words we choose can shape that mindset for better or worse. Whether you’re an insurance case manager, OT, rehab consultant, or allied health professional, the way you communicate with clients could be the key to better outcomes.
Here are five powerful ways that language can make or break a rehab journey – and how we can all use it more intentionally.
- The Power of Other People’s Expectations
Clients are watching, listening, and absorbing more than we realise. If those around them – GPs, case managers, support teams – speak with optimism, belief, and forward-focused thinking, clients are far more likely to believe in their own potential.
Research shows that GPs in particular hold significant sway over a client’s sense of hope and capacity. If a trusted professional says, “You will get back to work,” that confidence can become a self-fulfilling prophecy. On the flip side, if the message is, “This might be something you live with forever,” motivation and hope can plummet. The takeaway? Clients are more likely to return when others believe they can. Let’s be intentional with our optimism.
- Ditch the Catastrophising
Words like “bone on bone,” “crumbling spine,” or “severe degeneration” may feel descriptive, but they can also be terrifying. We’re not saying to sugarcoat reality – but there’s a huge difference between being realistic and being catastrophic.
Instead of pain-focused language, we can introduce clients to the concept of discomfort as a normal part of rehab. Swapping “pain” for “protective response” or describing cartilage as “a bit worn” rather than “destroyed” gives people space to breathe and engage with their program without fear. The brain is wired to respond to threat, and language can be that threat – or the relief.
- Shift to Strength-Based Language
“Unable to lift more than 5kg” paints a very different picture than “currently lifting 5kg and progressing steadily.”
When we focus on what clients can do, we build confidence, momentum, and possibility. Functional capacity conversations should reflect ability, not limitation. Even better? Framing small wins as stepping stones creates motivation to take the next step.
Let’s change the story from, “Here’s what you can’t do,” to “Here’s what you’re building on.”
- Your Words Shape Their Identity
When someone becomes unwell or injured, their identity often shifts. Suddenly, the “nurse” becomes a “claimant” or the “builder” becomes “off work.” Our language can either reinforce that shift – or gently guide people back to who they are and want to be.
Let’s say “person with chronic fatigue” rather than “chronic fatigue client.” Let’s acknowledge that someone has a condition – they are not the condition. And let’s talk about work identity as something that evolves, not ends. Recovery is not just physical; it’s also about reclaiming (or recreating) a meaningful sense of self.
- Make It Collaborative
We get better buy-in when clients feel heard and included. Instead of telling someone, “Here’s what we’re going to do,” try “What goals feel important to you right now?”
When clients are involved in setting the plan, they become more motivated to follow it. They shift from passive recipients of rehab to active participants in their own recovery. It’s a small shift in language that makes a big difference in outcomes. And it starts with us.
Your Words Are More Powerful Than You Know
Language in rehab isn’t just about communication – it’s about connection, confidence, and creating possibility. When we speak with intention, we shape recovery stories that are more hopeful, empowering, and effective.
So let’s choose our words wisely. They matter more than we know.
Author: Yolanda van Vugt