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Kathryn Ahuja on Why Words Matter in Healing

To what extent does a healthcare provider’s word choice impact patient outcomes? 

In this episode of Expertly Said, physical therapist, yoga teacher, and pelvic floor rehab specialist Kathryn Ahuja of Solstice Physiotherapy joins Kristen to explore the role of language in healing—and how even well-intentioned words can inadvertently cause harm. She explains why “do no harm” begins with mindful communication and how choosing the right words can transform a patient’s experience of care.

Watch or Listen to the Episode

Watch the full episode here or listen to it on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

The Big Idea: Nocebic Language Negatively Impacts Patients

Every healthcare provider learns the principle “do no harm.” As Kathryn explains, that commitment applies not only to what providers do but also to what they say.

She discusses the concept of “nocebic language”—words or phrases that unintentionally cause harm in the form of fear, anxiety, or pain. For example, telling a patient their “knee joint is bone on bone” or labeling a pregnancy “geriatric” can have a profoundly negative impact.

Kathryn argues that communication can have a therapeutic effect when it’s intentional and rooted in empathy, enabling providers to improve outcomes and, ultimately, strengthen the patient-provider relationship. In her words: “If we want to be doing good medicine, we need to be using good words.”

“We are unintentionally creating harm before we put our hands on somebody. Nocebic language is almost always well-intended. We’re trying to be real with our patients. We're trying to give them the truth. We're trying to give them all of our education. We're trying to give them a good understanding of the procedure that they're about to undergo and of the risks that they're going to take. But time and time again, the research shows us that these words can actually be really detrimental to our outcomes.”
Kathryn Ahuja
Physical therapist, yoga teacher, and pelvic floor rehab specialist at Solstice Physiotherapy

Key Takeaways

  • Words have the power to negatively impact patients, and scientific research backs this assertion.

  • Common medical terms that providers use can heighten distress in patients.

  • Asking patients to rate their pain on a scale of 1-10 does little to improve care and can actually make people focus more on their pain.

  • When patients are encouraged to share their stories and experiences, they often reveal information that guides effective treatment. 

Ways to Connect with Kathryn

If you’d like to connect with Kathryn, you can do so here:

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