Clients
Hello,
What have been the biggest setbacks in your job? When you have clients do they open up to you about what is going on with their issues?
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Hello,
What have been the biggest setbacks in your job? When you have clients do they open up to you about what is going on with their issues?
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Dear mm1303 (sorry I was not sure how to address you without a name),
HI! Thanks for writing! Your first question, “What have been the biggest setbacks in your job?” I would have to see the hardest part of my job as an SLP is knowing I can not help everyone(for a variety of reasons). That is just reality. No one can help everyone, but we can do our best.
Your second question about “when you have clients do they open up to you about what is going on with stuttering?” Yes. All the time. The nature of our job is to be counselors. It is in our scope of practice. By getting to the heart of our thoughts we can adjust thought and physical behaviors if a client wants to. And that is not just for stuttering, but for any change we wish to make as a person.
Thanks!
With compassion and kindness,
Scott
Hello! You have wonderful questions for us! Thank you for asking questions to the professional panel, and I am deeply honored to answer them for you.
Question 1:What have been the biggest setbacks in your job?
-This is a loaded question. Every job comes with setbacks, no matter what the job is. Whether you are an SLP, work in Information Technology, etc, every job comes with a pros and cons list. With that being said, the hardest part of my job as an SLP is not having enough time to spend with every person that I serve. I LOVE people and hearing stories of people. It’s my favorite part of this journey as an SLP. So, that one-hour therapy session goes by fast. Yes, we are working towards goals, yes, we are making progress etc… it’s still “my job” but it’s really my life style and life passion. So, for me, I just don’t feel like I get to spend enough time with everyone. When I became a wife and a mother, I learned quickly that I had to leave my place of employment on time to pick up my children, get home to make dinner, etc.. so it was impossible to spend more time living out my passion at my place of employment AND completing my duties at home, so you have to find a balance- a healthy balance. If the clinician is not healthy, the therapy won’t exist. So, make sure you get in a healthy routine that works for you early on in your own journey.
Question 2: When you have clients do they open up to you about what is going on with their issues?
-This is an awesome sauce question! So, each individual that stutters that I have had the pleasure of working with in the therapy room is different. Each person has their own journey. The person sitting in front of you for therapy is a human being, just like you- this seems obvious, but I needed this reminder so many times early on in my world as an SLP. I used to get so worked up over the smallest things as a new clinician when really, it’s just people. Yes, we need to be professional. Yes, we need to be prepared. But this is people serving people at the same time. We need to know our stuff- that is extremely important. Those who do not know stuttering should not be serving people who stutter, I fully believe that. But look at you- already engaging yourself in the worlds of people who stutter- that counts. The person sitting in front of you for therapy is a human being like you- talk to that person like they are your human equal. Gain rapport and a therapeutic relationship with that person. This person may share a ton of emotional stuff in the first session with you, or nothing emotional at all for the first six months- you can’t force or make them share anything with you- just like they can’t make you share anything with them (or anyone else can for that matter.) Think about one aspect of your life- that has affected you the most- times it by ten- then walk into a stranger practitioners room and try emotionally talking about it- that’s kind of what it’s like for a person who stutters to talk about their stuttering for the first time with a new SLP but still not really…. does that help put it into perspective a bit? Sharing of emotions is a huge deal- bigger than SLP’s realize… so when a person who stutters decides to gift you as the SLP with that information, treat it like gold, keep it confidential, and have that trust relationship. I hope this answer helps you in your own journey. Be well!