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From: Charlie Healey
Date: 04 Oct 2007
Time: 13:23:08 -0500
Remote Name: 129.93.99.57
Keeping clients motivated when progess is slow is a challenge. Because therapy can take a long time, it is important to show the client how they are making progress, even in small ways such as being willing to try talking in a situation that they never would have tried before or that someone makes a comment to the client or parent that the person sees some changes taking place. Pointing out small improvements in awareness, understanding, perceptions, attitudes, beliefs, motor skills, etc. can keep a client motivated to continue working on their speech. I also discuss motivation issues with the client or parents of children if needed. Being honest and open with the client will also allow a clinician to address motivation issues when they arise. But, motivating clients to stay in therapy is not totally the clinician's responsibility. The client has to feel they are getting something out of therapy to continue to attend. When a client doesn't want to work on their stuttering, there isn't much a clinician can do to change that attitude and at that point, maybe therapy should be suspended until the time is right to start working on stuttering again.