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From: Charlie Healey
Date: 14 Oct 2008
Time: 19:29:29 -0500
Remote Name: 76.84.69.211
You ask a good question and one I get asked a lot. I assume you are asking about home practice for children who stutter. First, it is hard to have a set rule on how much practice at home is enough, It varies for each client depending on what you are asking the client to practice. Second, most of the time we think of practice as practicing motor skills to enhance fluency or use a strategy at home. I have found that most clients are reluctant to do home practice unless it's a short time period and we all agree what the practice should involve. So, I set up a home practice "contract." It includes what they will be asked to practice, who they will practice with, when the practice will be done, where it will be done, and how often between sessions. All of these points are listed on a sheet of paper and I have the client sign it and I sign it...just like a contract. Then it is clear what needs to be done. I usually ask how much time they want to spend and they will give me the time frame, not number of responses or repetitions of the task. Lastly and maybe most importantly, let the client have some ownership about what will be done, how long it will take, who it's with, etc. That way, home practice will be something the client will want to do rather than have to do.