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From: Lisa Steinhardt, BC Grad Student & future SLP
Date: 06 Oct 2008
Time: 09:17:57 -0500
Remote Name: 70.23.98.212
Dear Patty, I appreciated your advice on how to approach therapy for a young child who stutters. I think that having a child view themselves as a superhero is an especially effective method of empowerment. Most superhero sagas involve "mild-mannered" characters whom the average person on the street would (or shouldn't!) be able to guess that they are superheros. They don't act or speak as they do when they are in costume. By encouraging a child who stutters to think of themselves as a "average Joe...with a special secret", their self-esteem can rise. When a person feels positively about themselves, they are more likely to participate and cooperate with a therapy technique/session. Besides, what child doesn't enjoy a good game of pretend? Encouragement,of course, is a good way of ensuring a positive outcome, no matter what the age of the client. Thank you again for your excellent advice and methodology. I know I will benefit from it, as will my future clientele.