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From: Judy Kuster
Date: 07 Oct 2010
Time: 10:47:13 -0500
Remote Name: 76.17.183.48
I would think the first goal would be to have the client identify what the avoidance behaviors are. There are two different ways to work on avoiding something you fear -- one is to "take a bath in the feared situation" -- immerse yourself in the situation you fear. For example, if the avoidance is of saying a certain phoneme, we might practice word lists with that sound. But I would still combine it with what I'm suggesting next. It is a much gentler way and is what your mom or dad probably did for you when you were afraid of the dark at night. They probably didn't just tuck you in bed, turn off the light, and shut the door. Maybe they left a light on in your room, then later a light on in the hall with the door wide open, then with the door half open, then maybe with a light on in the living room or bathroom close to your bedroom, etc. I personally don't tell a person who stutters to "take a bath of stuttering" to get over the fear and avoidance associated with it, unless I combine it with some sort of hierarchy. Instead, after discussion of his avoidance behaviors, we'd together choose one that is important to the client and that you both feel he might have some success in addressing. We might talk about where the fear comes from and how logical the fear really is and maybe talk about "stinkin' thinkin'" if it is appropriate. We might go out together and if the fear involves stuttering in certain situations, I might pseudo-stutter in that situation so we could discuss the reactions of the listener. Then together we could develop a hierarchy of activities for the client to work toward the goal of non-avoidance. Judy