It can be used as a tool in everyday psychotherapy and counselling sessions where these metaphors and hidden memories may give the underlying reasons for psychological problems, even when the patient voluntarily refuses to divulge them. A physician detecting this may be clued in to the patient's possible suicidal ideation or abuse, and take corrective steps more quickly. Oates does not stop at simply elucidating these key metaphors, but feels the phenomena is adaptable to hypnotherapy where more appropriate healing metaphors can be introduced through suggestion. Other uses for Reverse Speech put forward include employers using it as a employee selection tool, lawyers in deposition analysis, law enforcement in the investigation of crimes, and reporters for analysing politicians' speeches. If the theory is true, the implications are scary.
Much controversy exists.
Oates has been called a charlatan, con man and pseudoscientist. Oates has a different take. Lawrence Segel is a physician and assistant vice-president for medical research and development at a Toronto financial firm.