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From: Lynne Shields
Date: 22 Oct 2009
Time: 21:02:54 -0500
Remote Name: 68.188.68.2
Frank, You asked a great question. I think that training to begin to develop counseling skills is important for all SLPs. How would I talk to parents during an initial evaluation for stuttering? Probably the most important thing to do is to listen to the parents carefully, to identify their concerns and to find out what they need to know. In my younger years as a professional, I know that I spent way too much time focusing on giving the parents all sorts of data at the initial evaluation and overloading them with information about stuttering. I'm not entirely sure that it was all that helpful. Presently, I'm more inclined to engage them throughout the evaluation, asking them to tell me what they see in their child's speech, what has helped their child, and what questions they have for me. There are some really very nice resources on counseling. If you haven't viewed the Stuttering Foundation DVD, "Sharpening counseling skills", with David Luterman, you might enjoy watching that to gain some basic counseling skills. Hope this answer is helpful to you. Regards, Lynne