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From: Charlie Healey
Date: 17 Oct 2008
Time: 18:12:28 -0500
Remote Name: 71.31.207.218
Tyra: I'm not sure you have to be too concerned that the client will be put off by you saying that improvements are going to take time. He probably realizes that, particularly if he has therapy in the past. However, there are those clients that do want a quick fix and the point that I want to make with them is that change will take time. I sometimes get asked how long it will take. My answer is: It will depend on a lot of factors but it boils down to how hard the person wants to change, how hard he works outside of therapy, and how effectively the program will meet his needs. So, I wouldn't spend a lot of time discussing the length of time it will take for him to be more fluent or how soon the therapy will begin to work. As is said by many, therapy is a journey, not a destination. As he takes this journey, he will need to be patient and learn how to form new or modify existing cognitive, affective, linguistic, and social interaction processes as well as learn to change how he manages his speech from a motor behavior perspective. There will be ups and downs, improvements and set backs along the way. Overall though, I believe that the goal of therapy is to find ways to help clients develop new perspectives in all five CALMS areas. To do so takes time but I always say that let's see if we can do that is most helpful right off the bat. That will give them motivation to keep going. Finally, I always want feedback from them on what's working and what's not. That is important in planning your therapy. Best of luck with your client.