[Next]
From: Ellen-Marie Silverman
Date: 10/18/00
Time: 1:21:33 PM
Remote Name: 152.163.207.178
You have received some good suggestions. I have one thought to consider: A SLP, untrained as a counselor, probably would be well-advised to help parents transform guilt into postive action rather than trying to directly help them process their guilt. Of course, emphathetically responding to their message "I feel so guilty . . ." would be expected of any sensitive clinician. But the primary interaction between the clinician untrained as a counselor and the parent(s) needs to be focused on what can be facililitated in the present to bring about improved speaking behavior in their child and in their manner of interacting with their child.
If the parent(s) cannot release their guilt about their child's stuttering, then, in my opinion, a referral should be made to someone, e.g., clergy person, professional counselor, who can help them find relief. In the meantime, the clinician would be well-advised to continue treatment, carefully considering how to include the parents in formulating and establishing new communication patterns. The clinician's mantra in working with such parents could be "That was then, and this is now" in the sense that now is where change can be brought about.
I hope this helps.
Ellen-Marie Silverman