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From: David Shapiro
Date: 22 Oct 2007
Time: 15:17:03 -0500
Remote Name: 70.109.2.34
Hi Melissa, You’re asking a good question. Indeed being reluctant to change seems to be part of the human condition. From your question, I am left wondering the underlying reasons why the individual might be experiencing negativity, particularly if s/he recognizes the positive benefits that stand to be gained. This individual might have experienced failure in the past, might have been let down by previous clinicians, or might be experiencing special conditions that are so pressing as to render the communication objective to be less essential than others (i.e., family, financial, medical, emotional, etc.). In any case, I do set out to provide opportunities for the individual (and the family) to experience fluency success directly. Words (i.e., from the clinician) are cheap; Nothing is as motivating as success itself experienced directly by the client. I might add that William Perkins has done some eloquent writing about why people who stutter might elect not to be fluent. He wrote that for some clients, the cost (i.e., effort and constant vigilance to remain fluent) exceeds the benefit (i.e., controlled speech fluency), thus inclining one to prefer stuttering and speech without control. I know it is hard to imagine why a person would make choices other than the ones we think we would make if we were in the same situation. Too often, we see the would through our own eyes only, imposing our assumptions upon others, rather than trying to see through the eyes of those we are serving, trying to understand and relate the actions of another person to her/his (i.e., not our) assumptions. While I don’t wish to give up on someone (i.e., far too many people do that; that might be why the client is disbelieving the potential for positive change), I do realize that timing can be a factor. I remember dismissing a young adolescent client at his request, at the disbelief of his parents, only to have him reenroll as an adult and succeed in all of his objectives. Also, I remember a senior adult who had had over half a century of failed treatment before contacting me. He explained that now is the first time he could focus on his own needs (i.e., his children were all adults and living independently, his finances were well established, his marriage was secure, etc.); He too succeeded in all of his objectives and, some years later, told me, “Now I can go out fluent.” Anyway, keep up the good questions, and keep trying to see the world through the eyes of those we are working to serve. Good luck. David Shapiro