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From: Pam
Date: 13 Oct 2009
Time: 07:51:17 -0500
Remote Name: 163.153.6.70
Jen, Well, when I frist started therapy 3 years ago, I was nervous and apprehensive. I had no idea what I was getting into and had no idea what I wanted from therapy. I knew I had been covert for many years and didn't like it, and wanted support as I dared to allow stuttering come out. The very first student clinician was wonderful. She learned quickly to close the book and take the lead from me. I remember talking a lot about feelings, crying a lot, (she did too), sharing journal entries, and generally starting the journey to acceptance. We stay in touch after 3 years, pretty regularly. We joke now that her supervisors always would insist that she have me do "target work". I wasn't ready for that, and she sensed that, which made for a great foundation of trust and allianace. Sometimes you're not going to work on stuttering in stuttering therapy, and thats OK. The clinician needs to meet the client where he/she is at. If that happens, and the client feels comfortable, technique work will come. I know thats one of the best lessons that both of us learned - me as a first time participant and the clincian as a first timer to working with an adult who stutters. Hope this helped.