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From: Andrea
Date: 10/14/02
Time: 3:12:33 PM
Remote Name: 152.163.188.232
What's wrong with opening a "Christian Speech Center"? Although those of us who plan to work in the public school system are certainly restricted in our ability to discuss religious beliefs, why not be open and upfront about your approach to therapy in your private practice. Clients who share your beliefs could seek your services and gain from your insights. From a Christian standpoint, this would be a wonderful opportunity to witness and minister. From a professional viewpoint, I see nothing in your paper which contradicts generally accepted approaches to therapy. You've enriched them by adding the gift of God's comfort. You've been asked, "What comes next?" I'm just beginning my graduate studies and still have a lot to learn about stuttering. But it seems to me that your Biblical principles address attitudes toward stuttering and ways to handle the emotions that often accompany stuttering. It's often those attitudes and emotions that turn stuttering into a handicap. Like you pointed out, even Moses had be convinced that he could lead. Addressing these emotional issues is often a vital part of therapy, so why is it unethical to approach them from a Biblical point of view? Psychological practices fall in and out of favor. New learning theories are proposed and rejected. What's accepted today is politically incorrect tomorrow. But the Bible has lasted over two thousand years. Although not everyone is a Christian, you don't have to provide therapy for everyone. Some clients may only want a female therapist, or a young therapist, or someone who speaks their native language. Others should not be offended by who you are. I think that as long as the client has a choice to use your services (meaning that you're not the only publicly funded services available to the client)you could offer your religious views as openly as you would any other theoretical belief about stuttering.