From: Ellen-Marie Silverman
Date: 10/15/00
Time: 11:46:11 AM
Remote Name: 205.188.198.43
Couneling is enhanced communication with a designated goal of increasing understanding. In the practice of speech pathology, counseling forms an integral part, indeed the matrix, of the process. Listening with empathy, consideration, and the intent to provide sound direction, the speech pathologist facilitates positive change (actually in both therapist and client). I thinks some clinicians become frightened of stirring up trouble if they apply counseling procedures. If they maintain a focus on desirable modification of speaking/oral communication behaviors and attitudes and use the techniques you describe and other similar ones to clarify content and feeling, that is not likely to happen. And, if using counseling techniques does identify issues the client wishes to explore that extend beyond the training of the speech pathologist, the clinician can make a referral to someone who can assist with that goal. Not to use such techniques is to foster a cold, sterile atmosphere where little positive change is likely to happen.
While I generally support the thesis of your paper, I would ask you to reconsider the label you have used to designate the consumer of stuttering therapy: PLWS (people living with stuttering. To me, such a designation sounds fatalistic, hopeless. I would suggest Using "people who stutter," which has the connotation of positive change that PLWS does not, to me anyway.
Thanks for your presentation of important ideas. Ellen-Marie Silverman