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From: Dick Mallard
Date: 10 Oct 2009
Time: 10:15:28 -0500
Remote Name: 70.115.247.118
Pam, how right you are. You bring to mind the eight year old boy who came to our program. At the end of therapy he was asked how each member of his family could help him. When he came to his dad, he stated, "I want you to quit your job and that will help my stuttering." The dad had a perfect response, "How will quitting my job (a salesman who traveled) help your speech?" The boy responded, "I have learned that when I spend time talking to you it helps me talk better." They worked out a system where they would have their Talk Times on the phone when the dad was out of town. The boy never mentioned to any person in his family that helping him talk differently would help his stuttering. He told his mother he did not want her to do anything; "You are doing everything right." I will never forget this session. The young man went on to be an outstanding college football player and successful adult. I still keep in touch with the family. They are a living testimony that chances for success increase greatly by letting the person who has the problem decide what to do about it and then honoring those decisions if possible. This is why, Pam, I have a great deal of respect for the late Lena Rustin and her staff in London who taught me to approach treatment from this perspective. Thanks so much for writing and best wishes to you.