🚫😱 These common words make your clients WORSE!

Email Delivery Date: May 8, 2025

<!–

Hey Hypno-Fam!

Ever told a client “Don’t worry” and watched them instantly spiral into every worst-case scenario imaginable?
That wasn’t a fluke. That was the brain doing exactly what it’s wired to do.

The subconscious mind doesn’t process negatives the way we think it does.

So when we say, “Don’t be anxious”, what the subconscious actually hears is:
“Be anxious.”

Oof. That’s not just a communication slip-up—it’s a recipe for reinforcing the very symptoms we’re trying to help with.

Let’s break this down and get you some upgraded tools.

🧠 Why the Brain Ignores “Don’t”

The subconscious mind isn’t logical—it’s associative and image-based.
When you say, “Don’t imagine a purple elephant,” what happens?
💥 Boom. There’s your elephant. Wearing a tutu. Tap dancing.

This is the core reason negatively phrased suggestions can backfire.
They activate the problem—not the solution.

📸 This Applies to Imagery Too

One of our sharp students, Peter, asked if this concept applies to images too. The answer is YES! It’s not just the words—it’s the mental images we feed ourselves too.

If a client is constantly imagining how awkward, panicked, or rejected they’ll feel at a party…

Guess what their brain is rehearsing?
Being awkward, panicked, and rejected.
This is how self-sabotage gets wired in without the client even realizing it.

🛠 How to Reframe:

Language & Imagery That Actually Helps

✅ Instead of

“Don’t be anxious…”

Say:

“You can feel calm and steady here.”

✅ Instead of

“Don’t think about your trauma…”

Say:

“You’re safe now, and you’re allowed to rest.”

✅ Instead of “Stop overthinking…”

Say:

“You can trust yourself to handle this moment.”

🔁 Always give the brain something to move toward, not something to avoid.

In imagery work, guide clients to rehearse what they want to happen, not what they fear:

“Picture yourself feeling confident at the event.”
“Imagine your body staying grounded as you speak.”
“See your younger self being protected and comforted.”

These suggestions prime the nervous system for safety and congruence—not more chaos.

🧠 This Is the Blueprint for Breaking Self-Sabotage

If you only remember one thing from this email, let it be this:

What we focus on, we feel. And what we rehearse, we repeat.

This is true for our clients—and for us.
Positive, specific, present-tense language is your greatest tool as a hypnotherapist.
It’s how we build new neural pathways, not just talk about them.

🎧 Want to Go Deeper?

We just recorded a full episode on this topic on our brand-new podcast:
🎙️ “Tripping Off” — where we explore the weird, wild, and transformative world of the subconscious mind.
🔗 Tap here to listen and subscribe:

👉 Tripping Off Podcast

If you’re not in the course yet—this is your reminder that the price goes up in the Fall!
Sign up here

Whether you’re new to this work or you’re rewiring minds in your sleep, this episode is packed with insights you can use right away.

Here’s to saying what we do want—because words matter,

Jesse & Zac

Co-Founders of Trauma Focused Hypnotherapy

PS: Want to talk with us live and get suggestions for your daily sessions? Join our TFH Discord Community! Click here to connect!

https://traumafocusedhypnotherapy.com/

This email was sent to {{contact.EMAIL}}

You’ve received it because you’ve subscribed to our newsletter.

Unsubscribe

[iawp_view_counter]