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From: Alan (to Mona)
Date: 16 Oct 2009
Time: 17:34:03 -0500
Remote Name: 81.77.133.174
Hi Mona, Thank you for taking the time to read my paper and contribute to the threaded discussion. It was kind of you to write in such a vein. I’m sorry it has taken a few days to reply meaningfully to your post. Your questions are thought-provoking and may take me a few minutes to answer. :-) My motivation to change the course of my life was initially ignited when I attended an Open Day organised by a stuttering management programme. I should explain that I did not attend out of choice - I was a reluctant observer and only went along to appease my wife. :-) During the two hour presentations, I witnessed several PWS speaking about how that programme had positively impacted upon their speech. At the time, I had not subjected myself to mainstream therapy for several decades, principally due to the lack of success that I had encountered with various approaches. On several occasions, I had been given a useful degree of fluency in a controlled environment but then saw it cruelly snatched away when I returned into the outside world. I vowed that I would never again place myself in a situation where I might experience similar heartache/disappointment. I had long resigned myself to the fact that I would never be able to deal with my stuttering issues. One of PWS who addressed the audience at that Open Day was so eloquent, and in control of his speech, that I could not fail to sit up and take notice. When he related how he had won several public speaking trophies, I was even more impressed. :-) In 1954, the British athlete, Roger Bannister, became the first person to run the mile in less than four minutes. Athletes from all over the world had unsuccessfully tried to achieve that feat for many, many years - it was considered impossible. When he ran the first sub-four minute mile, the mindset of other athletes across the globe changed overnight. They now believed it could be achieved – Bannister’s world record provided irrefutable evidence. Within a relatively short period of time, runners in many different countries emulated Bannister’s feat. The moment their long-held self-limiting belief (regarding the four minute barrier) had been eliminated – their disempowering thoughts followed suit. The man that I heard speaking so eloquently at that stuttering management programme Open Day became MY Roger Bannister, and for the first time in my life, I believed that I could do something about my stuttering issues. I, subsequently, enlisted the services of that programme by attending a course in May 2000. It was of four days duration and those four days changed the direction of my life. Quite apart from acquiring the techniques and tools (to which I referred in my paper) , I also learned a great deal about stuttering, in general, including (inter alia) the immense consequences of using avoidance strategies, and the benefits of expanding my comfort zones. Until that point, my knowledge about stuttering was extremely limited. There were role models in abundance, further strengthening my belief that I had accessed the key that could finally release me from the debilitating oral shackles that had inhibited me since early childhood. The way in which the programme operates is that I was able to return to as many future courses as I wished, thus providing me with numerous opportunities to become empowered by speaking in front of large groups of other returning and new clients. I also enjoyed access to an extensive international support network. In addition, I devised my own personal plan of action that allowed me to consolidate (and test) my new speaking patterns in a wide range of situations. I wrote, at length, about this in my 2003 ISAD Online Conference paper entitled, ‘STEP OUTSIDE: Why expanding comfort zones can improve our stuttering and lead to more fulfilling lives’. http://www.mnsu.edu/comdis/isad6/papers/badmington6.html The point I am attempting to make is that, while I was pointed in the right direction by the stuttering management programme, I increased the momentum by independently undertaking a great deal more on my own behalf. (I knew that I had the support of the programme at hand should I need it). I also researched a great deal about psychology and cognitive matters. Having provided the above background, I shall now return to the points that you raised. :-) Question 1: “Do you think the will to do what you did has to come from the person who stutters or could a therapist ‘prescribe’ it? Would it be as powerful?” Answer: The advent of the Internet has facilitated wide dissemination of information about stuttering, while also affording opportunities for interaction (and the sharing of views/experiences) by persons from all parts of the world. This means that PWS are able to apprise themselves of the various therapies/approaches that are now available. They could, therefore, gain the motivation to tread a similar path should they so desire. However, I feel that I benefited immensely from the availability of support, particularly in the initial stages. Yes, of course, a speech therapist could prescribe such a plan of action for a client. However, it should be recognised that everyone is unique. What works for one PWS need not necessarily be successful for another. Question 2: “Would it be as powerful?” Answer: That’s difficult to answer. In brief, every PWS is different. We come from different backgrounds; we have different life experiences and degrees of emotional baggage; we have commenced from different starting lines; we possess different aspirations and expectations; and we have attained different levels of maturity and education. Question 3: “Can an outsider show the way and support the person?” Answer: Yes, definitely! In addition to a therapist, support might also be provided by other PWS, support groups, a stuttering management programme, or even a parent or a loved one. Mona, you may wish to gain a more detailed insight into the path that I trod by reading some of my other online articles: (1) STUTTERING IS NOT JUST A SPEECH PROBLEM http://www.mnsu.edu/comdis/kuster/Infostuttering/badmington.pdf (2) HOW I CHANGED MY STUTTERING MINDSET http://www.mnsu.edu/comdis/isad8/papers/badmington8.html (3) TECHNOLOGY : A friend or foe of someone who stutters http://www.mnsu.edu/comdis/isad9/papers/badmington9.html I hope that you find something of interest in my protracted ramblings. Kindest regards Alan