How Clean Language is being used in healthcare
I’m busy connecting people who use Clean Language in health and care, especially in the UK’s National Health Service. (Check out our next gathering here.)
That’s got me thinking hard about the various ways in which people in healthcare are using, or seeking to use, Clean. There are a lot! After all, conversations are at the heart of healthcare – and Clean makes conversations richer and more effective.
Some applications of Clean Language in healthcare that I’m aware of include:
Clinical conversations between doctors/nurses/other practitioners and their patients. Asking Clean Language questions can help them to form a stronger therapeutic alliance, where the patient feels better listened to and understood, and is willing and able to provide better information. Meanwhile, the clinician has a specific methodology that helps them to resist the urge to diagnose and give advice for at least a few minutes – which can actually speed up consultations. (Click for example 1 Example 2)
Conversations with colleagues, in meetings and outside them. Using Clean approaches can help them to exchange information more effectively, reducing misunderstandings, at the same time as building stronger working relationships within teams, and across integrated services. Plus, Clean Language questions can help direct attention to what’s actually wanted, and what needs to be done. (Example)
In informational materials. An appreciation of Clean can help refine messages, stripping them back to what’s essential and so making them clearer. Noticing the metaphors that are being used is helpful in spotting potential unintended consequences such as a lack of inclusivity – and for creating graphics and other supporting visuals.
In coaching. The NHS has trained many, many managers to coach their colleagues. An awareness of Clean helps them to hold back from advice-giving, to keep each session focussed, and help coachees to find their own individual ways to approach their challenges.
In group facilitation. Clean Language questions are a valuable addition to many facilitation approaches, especially the Liberating Structures. (Example)
In recruitment interviews. (Example)
In psychotherapy. David Grove invented Clean Language as a therapy modality, supporting his clients to heal from trauma, and it seems that at least some NHS therapists use Clean in their practice.
In research. Increasingly, Clean Language interviewing is being valued as a research tool in various academic contexts – which are highly likely to include research contexts within the NHS (either now or in the near future).
How else is Clean being used in healthcare? Please add your experiences below.
And if you’re using Clean in any aspect of health care care, and you’d be willing to share a short anecdote on video, drop me a message and let’s talk soon!
Many thanks to Joanne Appleton, Saskie Dorman and Kath Rooksby for inspiring this blog post.
Work in healthcare and want to learn the basics of Clean Language? Live course starts soon.