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From: Tim Mackesey
Date: 10/17/03
Time: 5:13:41 AM
Remote Name: 68.19.2.66
Kudos to your interest in helping kids who stutter.
A key theme here is seeking the positive intention behind aversion and helping them decide they want to stop. Apply the same philosophy with other secondary symptoms. For example, what if they tap their hand or foot to force out blocks. What is the positive intention? Conversationaly find out.
"So if I understand right, you started doing it trying not to stutter."
Yes.
"Do you have to?"
Well, no
"Let's imagine it is 6 months from now. Do you still want to be tapping your foot?"
NO!
"Let's do something. I want you to get stuck on A-Apple (block) and stop the block. Good. Did you need your foot to stop the block?"
NO!
I call that a "contrast exercise." Have them do something 180 degrees different and then decide what they want.
Cheers, Tim