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From: Bobby Childers
Date: 10/22/01
Time: 6:47:51 PM
Remote Name: 216.234.195.233
Patti:
I used to tell my student clinicians every session that they went to far, but I was ignored. I really think its because they didn't believe me (I told them too many really bad jokes), and they knew that deep down, I wasn't really serious, I just had to complain about something.
Pushing a client is a very thin line, similar to the ones you used to push as child (teenager) with your parents. You start out with a little push, and work your way until the immovable force locks down. Probably 99.9999 percent of all adult stutterers, and quite a few child/teen stutterers will have a point to where they aren't quite ready to hit yet. But as you work towards finding that spot, you will open their eyes to a cadre of things they can do. With each new experience, the IM force moves farther away.
Having a support group of SLP's, other stutterers, clinic staff, family, friends all come together to help your client experience new things, without fear of judgment or reprisal.
Just watch your clients body language, and you will be able to tell when the time is ripe to "back off". But once you do back off a bit, start a little below that and slowly chip away at the Immovable Force. Eventually both you and the client will climb the insurmountable mountain together.
Bobby