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From: Alan B (ro Julie)
Date: 15 Oct 2010
Time: 17:37:40 -0500
Remote Name: 95.144.70.145
Hi Julie, Thank you for reading my paper and participating in the threaded discussion. You enquired if I could give examples of how humour might be incorporated into therapy. Firstly, I should explain that when I made reference to humour, I was principally talking about how I use it in the talks that I give in an attempt to increase public awareness about stuttering. Let me quickly stress that the amusing anecdotes relate solely to MY OWN personal experiences. I would NEVER invite/encourage an audience to laugh at anyone else’s stuttering or misfortune. When members of an audience laugh, they tend to remember the set of circumstances that caused them to laugh. For example, I don’t think it’s sufficient for me to simply tell them that I once used an immense amount of word substitution – avoiding 13 letters of the alphabet. I feel that I need to give them specific examples. So, in my talks, I describe incidents that have occurred as a result of my stutter. Many of them relate to things that happened when I was a police officer. For example, I recount the fact that if I found a drunk lying in Somerset Street, I would drag him around into adjoining Alma Street in order to make the arrest. I explain that I could not say words commencing with the letter “S”, but did not have problems with words beginning with the letter “A”. Moving the drunk into another street made it easier for me when I subsequently came to give evidence in court (because it would be necessary for me to mention the location of the offence). When I tell this story, I act out the occurrence by simulating the incident. This always generates a great deal of laughter as well as creating a vivid image in the minds of the audience. I feel that this helps them to gain a better understanding of the problems that I encountered with my speech. Another story (that I tell) involves the time that I took some items of clothing to the dry cleaners. When the shop assistant requested my name, I answered “Adrian Adams” (because I always found it difficult to say my own name). It was my intention to give the same name (Adrian Adams) when returning to collect the items a few days later. However, things did not go according to plan. :-) Unknown to me, someone else decided to collect them on my behalf. She was completely unaware that I had given a false identity and asked for the clothing – giving my real name. Of course, they were unable to find anything recorded against that name. Rather embarrassingly, I had to explain why I had used someone else’s name. :-) By telling such a story, it (once again) demonstrates to the audience the bizarre strategies that I used in order to conceal my stutter. I feel that the unusual and graphic nature of the incidents generates a more vivid image in the minds of my listeners – thus creating a more indelible memory, as well as a greater appreciation of the fears that I faced. I also use many more humorous examples in my talks to demonstrate other factors relating to stuttering. You may wish to read the following brief paper that I contributed to the ISAD Online Conference in 2001. ‘Wedding vows – For better - for worse’ http://www.mnsu.edu/comdis/isad5/papers/weddingvows.html I have tried (without much success) to think how you might incorporate humour into therapy. I think a great deal will depend upon at what point in his/her life your client has reached (in relation to stuttering). Fortunately, I have progressed to a stage where stuttering is no longer an issue. So, I can now laugh at some of the incidents that occurred when I was younger. At certain points in my life, I experienced immense heartache and disappointment as a result of my speech. At such times, it would have been difficult for me to see the funny side of things. :-) As I draw this response to a conclusion, I’ve just thought of two examples where you might use stuttering in therapy. You may wish to check out the following poems that I composed for the ISAD Online Conference in 2004. Although initially written for children, the messages that they contain apply equally to anyone who stutters AND contain humour. :-) ‘Everyone’s Different’ - http://www.mnsu.edu/comdis/isad7/papers/badmington7/badmington27.html ‘Changing the words around’: http://www.mnsu.edu/comdis/isad7/papers/badmington7/badmington17.html I wish you every success with your studies and future profession. Kindest regards Alan