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From: Andreas Starke
Date: 10/22/02
Time: 3:44:38 AM
Remote Name: 80.129.251.159
Dear Janet,
thanks for reacting.
> I know that I've only begun to scratch the surface of what is "there" for use of therapists and stutterers and the need to bring in others with expertise in an "alternative" approach, so to speak.
I don’t think that it is really "alternative" what I do. I have studied Van Riper very thoroughly by translating part two of "The Treatment of Stuttering" to German. There is no way to read a book more intensely than translating it. And I have studied with Courtney Stromsta at Western Michigan U. As a mathematician I’m trained to systematize observations, in a new way if necessary. But no, this is not "alternative", I feel to be in line with the "traditional approach" (Van Riper et al.).
> I have someone cert in Shiatsu working with my clients; I have some doing deep breathing exercises via Zen; some reading The Anatomy of the Spirit, etc.
I cannot decipher the word "cert"? I had a Shiatsu teacher in one of my therapy groups recently. He didn’t mention any connection to my work. I myself don’t know much about Shiatsu.
Whatever you do in terms of "deep breathing exercises via Zen" (via Zen?), don’t do them with your stuttering clients! Please note that normal speech breathing functions around the rest position, in terms of volume about 0.5 liters or a little more above and below the rest volume. Any "deep breathing" involves stretching, excessive muscle activity and tension. (Think about the spring equation F = -kx, F force at both ends of the spring, x difference between the current length and the rest length. The deeper you inhale the greater the force that you have to use, the same holds for forced exhalation.) You may find that you are in fact establishing some strange stuttering reactions, and you are leading you client away from the state of "being fluent."
> Your article gives me pause. If you can filter through what I've written, can you tell me where I've not looked and where I should look forward.
Read Van Riper’s book (The Treatment of Stuttering). Few people seem to really read it and even fewer seem to use it. And study the Feldenkrais method. When it comes to so-called alternative methods there is a lot of crap on the market.
> I would like further contact with you, if that is possible. Is it?
Sure. At least you can try :-) . www.andreasstarke.de
Kind regards, Andreas