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From: Jaime Hannan
Date: 21 Oct 2010
Time: 10:59:48 -0500
Remote Name: 205.142.197.108
Hi Heather, thanks for your post. I wanted to add a little bit to what Scott said, based on some of the experiences that I have had, especially with other SLPs. I, like you, did not learn much at all about stuttering until I was in graduate school. I had never met anyone who stuttered until that point either - or if I had, I don't think I had realized it. Once I worked with my first client who stuttered, I realized that I was so interested in working with this population - and I am now working on a specialization in this area. When I talk with some other SLPs, I have realized that sometimes other SLPs (or people in general) are nervous about working with people who stutter because they feel like they don't always know how to react. They have expressed worry that they will say or do the wrong thing - without even meaning to. I think that experience and knowledge about stuttering in general help out in this area. So one thing you could do, would just be to educate others about stuttering (that there is no known cause, no known cure, etc.). I also saw some hesitation in using a counseling approach in therapy with people who stutter (and other clients as well). Using this type approach requires a lot of flexability and the realization that a session never seems to go as planned (which often is a good thing). You are letting the client run the session (in a sense) and are simply there to guide them and to listen (to what they do say and what they do not say). Many difficult and emotional issues may surface and SLPs may not know how to react or what to say. I have learned that you don't always have to know what to say (no one has all of the answers); however, just being there and supporting your client and accepting your client for who they are and what they say can make a world of difference. Using a counseling approach may also require you to open up yourself...as a way to connect with your clients and their families. You may not stutter or have the same experiences - but chances are you have felt many of the same emotions as they have at one point in your life. This connection helps to build an even stronger bond between you and your client (and his/her family). I hope this helps...feel free to ask Scott or me any more questions. Jaime.