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From: Gary J. Rentschler
Date: 02 Oct 2006
Time: 15:29:54 -0500
Remote Name: 165.190.57.87
I always cringe a little at the thought of a "favorite" approach to therapy. Clients are so different and have such varied needs. My general approach to therapy is to give the client what they need, whether it be more of a fluency-shaping approach or stuttering modification. Both approaches have their merits; our goal is to provide a client with the tools he or she needs to be successful. When I was in therapy as a client, I used the traditional Van Riper approach. I personally find this therapy very engaging now that I'm a clinician. I enjoy therapy because I can help clients through their fears and anxieties in addressing and confronting their stuttering. To my personal tastes, fluency-shaping lacks much of the "richness" that I find in stuttering modification. However, and most importantly, therapy can't be directed by what I like, but what's most effective for the client. Many people, including me, use an integrated approach in response to the symptoms of a client's difficulty. Best wishes in your graduate studies!