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From: Charlie Healey
Date: 20 Oct 2007
Time: 13:04:07 -0500
Remote Name: 76.84.69.211
Alda: Thanks for your comments and question. The role of the SLP in providing "counseling" to clients is a popular topic and one that has diverse opinions about what "counseling" means to us in our profession. Here is my take on the issue. First, a course in counseling is never going to prepare one for counseling clients. Yes, there are counseling strategies regarding what to ask, how to ask, and how to be a good listener and probe for more information. However, one is never going to learn how to counsel someone just be taking a class. Given that perspective, what I think SLPs can do is be good listeners and ask the client to talk about what concerns them much like you would "counseling" a friend who is going through some tough times. What people do in those situations is listen and attempt to understand the person's concerns from his/her perspective. The key is not offer advice but let the person work out what they think is the best way to get through the situation. The same principle applies to counseling those who stutter. Thoughts and feelings are explored relative to how they impact the stuttering. For example, I will say to a client, what were you thinking there as you had a stutter? What was happening physically and how did you feel about that moment of stuttering. I might also say, describe to me a speaking situation where you felt embarrassed about stuttering. Or, I wonder if you feel angry about your stuttering and if so, what contributes to that anger? So, I ask a lot of questions and sometimes don't know what they are going to say. I emphasize that it's okay to feel angry, sad, embarrassed about your stuttering but what can I help you do to reduce those feelings. Let's problem solve together. With kids you have be a little more direct in talking with them about feelins and emotions by doing some activity together. See the Chemla and Reardon book that the Stuttering Foundation sells as a guide. So, as you see, I am "counseling" but not in the sense that most people think about how the term is used. There are some counseling books on the market in our profession...one by Lutermann that is quite good for talking with adults and parents of children with communication disorders. Just be a good listener and link the negative thoughts and feelings they have about stuttering to specific speaking situations. When it gets into personal issues, we draw the line in terms of our counseling and I simply say that a counselor or other professional can help them with those issues should be contacted. Hope this answers your question.