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From: Gary J. Rentschler
Date: 17 Oct 2005
Time: 12:54:30 -0500
Remote Name: 165.190.57.87
Naimah: Wow! Talk about wisdom beyond your years!! There are several ways to respond to the issue you raised. For some, it is a relief to find someone (SLP) who understand and is willing to listen to the side of stuttering that isn't visible. It can be such a "corner turning" moment. But as you know, most PWS are men; men not particularly liking to talk about emotional stuff; not wanting to divulge those personal shortcomings. PWS from this vantage point often benefit a lot from group therapy in which others are talking about their stuttering. Often the "non-sharers" have put their feelings deep within them, burying them deep. When others start talking, the "buryer" can begin by seeing that his feeling are the same as (or different than)someone else's... then continue over time to elaborate on that. Another approach is to talk about someone else's stuttering and how they must feel. THis can be accomlished by reading things other PWS have written, or watching a video of others who stutter (there are some good commercially available ones out there now). Getting a client to talk about their feelings requires time and trust. Sometimes a single question (like, "Have you talked with your parents about your stuttering?") can open the flood gates. Overall, I think clients respect your knowledge and expertise about the disorder by leading them to "the other side". Thanks so much for offering the comment.