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From: Walt Manning
Date: 03 Oct 2008
Time: 10:36:42 -0500
Remote Name: 141.225.97.59
Hi there Charlton, As David Williams so nicely explains in his paper “Some thoughts on stuttering therapy” many techniques “work” in helping the speaker to produce more fluent speech. Many of them also create speech that, while technically fluent, also feel and sound unnatural. Speakers are used to the experience of stuttered speech and anything new is going to sound and feel weird – at least for a good while. And, of course I agree with you that transferring the ability to use and be confident when using the techniques to beyond-treatment environments is a major part of making the techniques functional. But change (therapeutic or self-directed) is not as much about techniques as it is about reorganizing the interpretation of your problem (in this case stuttering) and what you are capable of doing about your problem. Yes, improved fluency is an important goal and an indication of success. But goals such as not avoiding, recruiting the understanding and support of others, and assuming responsibility for taking action on many levels are more important. Experienced and wise clinicians should be able to help with all of those things. I hope this response is helpful.