Iceberg of Stuttering

[ Contents | Next | Previous | Up ]


Re: Teenager

From: Russ Hicks
Date: 10/16/03
Time: 5:04:10 PM
Remote Name: 12.237.88.139

Comments

Hi Jennifer,

Being a psychologist isn't easy, is it? It would be nice to simply say "Hold your tongue like THIS and you won't stutter any more." Sorry Charlie, it just isn't that easy. Being a good SLP, especially one dealing successfully with fluency disorders, requires a LOT more than just knowing how to hold your tongue!

Telling you how to be a good psychologist in one paragraph is, of course, beyond impossible. However, let me give you some suggestions...

1. Learn to LISTEN. Listening is probably one of the most important skills you'll ever learn.

2. Learn to RELATE to your clients. If you can get into his head and see things from his perspective while maintaining your own knowledge of what's really going on, you'll be way ahead of the game.

3. Read EVERY paper on this conference. Keep abreast of all the developments in the stuttering world through CEU's, joining the National Stuttering Association, and attending local NSA support groups. The more you can expose yourself to, the broader your basis of understanding is.

4. PARTICIPATE with your client to any extent possible. Be a role model. Join Toastmasters - and if he's 18, drag him along with you. Toastmasters is the best participation organization on the planet. And it's FUN!

5. Take as many courses as you can on psychology. Minor in psychology if possible.

6. Talk to your SLP peers and superiors. Two or more heads is almost always better than one.

Had enough for one day? <smile>

Good luck! And let me know how it goes!

Russ


Last changed: September 12, 2005