[ Contents | Search | Next | Previous | Up ]
From: Lynne Shields
Date: 10 Oct 2011
Time: 17:05:03 -0500
Remote Name: 68.188.68.2
Kelly, The age-old issue of motivation! It is a great topic for you to consider as someone just starting in the field. This 10-year-old has some good things to teach you, so why not talk to him about this? For example, ask him why he doesn't use his easy onsets and stretching outside of therapy. It could be that it takes too much effort or concentration at this point in his life, or it could be, as you suggest, that he really is not finding a negative impact from stuttering at this time in his life. If that is truly the case, and you and your supervisor believe that stuttering is not really impacting him at present, then perhaps focusing on being more fluent isn't high on his top 10 list of 'things to achieve'. Exploring stuttering, how he stutters when he gets stuck, what struggle behaviors he uses, etc. may be more profitable. If he shows tension and struggle, then perhaps he would be motivated to find ways to reduce the struggle, rather than stop stuttering--stutter more easily rather than less. Or, he might be more interested in learning interesting facts about stuttering. Perhaps talking about good communication skills--eye contact, making sure the listener knows the background information, letting others have a turn in conversations, etc.--is a good focus for therapy, if he does not have a good feel for his use or failure to use these skills. It may also be time for a break from therapy. So, in the next few weeks or months, you might refocus by talking with him and his parents about things they can do at home, right now and in the future: having a stutter-friendly household, where it's O.K. to talk and stutter, and the parents focusing on their son's message rather than on his stuttering; how to handle teasing if it happens; and, discussion about what signals he thinks will tell him that he may be ready (in time to come) to return for more therapy. Not knowing the details of this child, I can't tell you the best way to go about this, but you and your supervisor, the child and his family can certainly work together to decide what is in his best interest now. Best wishes, Lynne