 About the author: My name is Jill Shamp. I am currently a teacher’s assistant and looking for a teaching job. I enjoy working with children because it is rewarding seeing them grow and to see them learn. I always want to give students a different perspective because teachers gave me a different perspective when I was a student in an elementary school. I have one brother and two nephews who are very special to me, and a sister-in-law and my parents. |
I have been going to speech therapy since August of 2012. When I first started going to speech therapy I was tested to see what I needed to improve and what skills I was lacking so I could be a better communicator. I needed to perform different types of tests so that my speech therapist could see the areas that I needed to improve. After the tests, my speech therapist prepared a written report about the parts of my communication needing work. Once the report was completed, my mom came to the session so she could meet my speech therapist – to understand what was going to be involved during speech therapy. I am very lucky to have such an incredible speech therapist that cares so much and that teaches me new strategies.
It is important to learn different strategies in speech when dealing with stuttering such as easy onsets, slide-outs, and using a soft voice. These strategies help me when I feel that I stutter and especially when I feel I am tense. There are many other strategies that I have learned but the ones that I mentioned above for me and I use them the most. Using “MyLynel” helped too because it allowed me to listen to my voice and even to my speech therapist voice when she recorded words or sentences on it. “MyLynel” is an application that can be used on the iPhones or iPods to help people who stutter.
I went to the National Stuttering Association’s Washington D.C. Conference in July 2014. There were amazing sessions that my speech therapist and I went to together, and she carried out the therapy – I am focusing on one of these techniques with my speech therapist. Each week we work in the categories of low, medium, and high and I do assignments. If I stutter it is for sure okay because my speech therapist does not want me to hide my stuttering. My amazing speech therapist is so helpful and is always there. She is always there for me! I do not give up when this technique is challenging for me at times.
Going to speech therapy and having such an incredible speech therapist is improving my self-esteem. Without my speech therapist it is difficult because stuttering is challenging and not many people understand what it is. I feel that having such a great speech therapist helps a lot. I would not know what to do without my speech therapist, she constantly helps me to get where I need to be. It takes a lot of work and practice and it does not happen overnight. Without her I wouldn’t have gone to speech therapy to get the help that I need. I love going to see her because she is there for me; she listens and is a good listener. It is important for a client to have a good relationship with their speech therapist, otherwise, it will be difficult in the long run to go to speech therapy and to want to go further in life with talking. It is so important to find the right speech therapist and to have someone like mine who cares and is always there for their clients.
I would like to say thank you to my wonderful speech therapist whose name is Nancy!
Jill,
Thanks for sharing this paper about your experience with speech therapy. I’m so glad to see that you have had such a positive experience with speech therapy and have found a great speech therapist! Can you explain a little bit about the low, medium, and high categories? Are these difficulties levels or…? What do these categories refer to?
Thanks!
-Tiffani K.
Hi Tiffani,
Each week I that I go to my speech therapist I write down different areas that I want to work on that are either in the low, medium, or the high which take a lot of work and practice such as work and family and challenging for me so they are high. Even making friends are in the high category and even interviews. The low category would be talking to my speech therapist with making eye contact. The categories are three areas that I work on each day. Hope it helps. If you have any more questions feel free to ask.
Jill
Hi Jill,
I am a student working towards getting a certificate to assist speech therapists. Reading your paper reassured me that becoming an SLP is what I want to do in life! I am glad you are having such a great experience in speech therapy! Can you explain how listening to your own voice and to the therapist voice has helped you during therapy? The “MyLynel” app sounds like it could be convenient for clients to use whenever they want. I would like to know more about how it works and how it has been beneficial for you. Thank you.
Idalia Espinosa
Hi Idalia,
When I first used the “MyLynel” my speech therapist had the person that was informed come to talk to her and also me about it during my speech session so she could hear about it. It helped me to listen to my speech therapist voice and also to my voice and to see how it should sound. MyLynel gave me the practice hearing the way I talked. Besides doing MyLynel my speech therapist showed me other recording devices on the cell phone so you can record yourself so the client can listen to you. If you have any more questions please let me know.
Jill
Hi Jill,
I enjoyed your article very much and am so happy that you found an excellent speech-language pathologist (SLP). Can you describe what qualities your SLP has that makes you want to attend therapy? I am also curious if you received therapy for speech as a child and when your stuttering developed. Did your SLP give you any strategies to overcome secondary behaviors, if you experience any? Also, was there a cost involved for the MyLynel app for the cell phone, and if so, how much? Thank you so much!
Sincerely,
Debbie
Hi Debbie,
The qualities that make my speech therapist great that I want to attend is that she is always there for me. She is a wonderful listener, she cares a lot about me, and she lets me talk to her about anything that bothers me. It helps to have someone to talk to and to know I can trust. My speech therapist has helped me come a long way. My speech therapist is working with me with reduction therapy to help me not to use fillers, to help me not to put my fingers in my mouth, make eye contact, and even not to talk to loud. Secondary behaviors that I have are putting my fingers in my mouth eye contact, and fillers. There wasn’t a cost for the application for the “MyLynel” on the cellphone. It is great for people who stutter. My therapist is just amazaing and she continues to help me!! If you have any more questions please feel free to ask.
Jill Shamp
Hi Debbie,
I received speech therapy in elementary school and also privately. But a few years ago my mom noticed that I was stuttering and she did research to find the right speech therapist for me. Nancy who is my speech therapist is just amazing and is working with me with reduction therapy. She is always there for me and believe me at times stuttering can be challenging but with the therapist that is always there and makes a difference it surely helps.
Jill
Hello Jill,
I really enjoyed your paper about the positive qualities of your interactions with your speech therapist and with the treatment process in general. I was wondering about how you go about carrying over what you learn in the therapy room to your workplace, do you spend time in different settings with your therapist while you work on your strategies? How has your experience in the workforce improved since you began speech therapy in 2012?
I am glad that you have shared your thoughts and that you are having such a wonderful experience.
Thank you for your time,
Anica Gillis
Hi Anica,
My therapist and I come up with a plan based on the reduction therapy for the week that I should be working on in each category such as the low for instance when I call my speech therapist I am trying really hard not to use fillers such as like, something, um, whatmatcallit, and whatever. It takes a lot of practice and it just does not happen over night. My speech therapist is low it makes it easier compared to the other categories such as the medium or the high. Work is really high for me. I have a difficult time at work but I am trying and it takes practice and a lot of work with a wonderful therapist. Work challenging for me but I will get there with doing reduction therapy. I am trying. Stuttering is not easy but with having a wonderful therapist that is always there and helpful and makes a difference that what matters the most in going to therapy!! If you have any more questions please feel free to write back. I will be happy to answer anything that you want to know.
Jill Shamp
Hi Jill,
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and I’m happy to know that you have found an excellent SLP in your journey of becoming a great communicator. I also agreed that therapy is not just an overnight work but an ongoing process in our daily life.
I would like to know more about how to repair the relationship if somehow the trust is not successfully built at the beginning either between the SLP and the client or between the person who stutter and others that he/she interacts with. When you come across someone who does not understand what stuttering is and does not treat you with patience or respect, what would you do?
Also, would you mind sharing what did not work from your therapy and how did you communicate this with your speech therapist to make adjustment, if any? Thank you very much.
Hi Ella,
Thank you for taking the time to read my paper. I was very fortunate from the very first time that I met my speech therapist that I build a rapport with her. It was just amazing. I knew that she was the right speech therapist for me. She helps me with different strategies such as slide-outs, easy onsets, easy beginnings, and soft voice. Besides those strategies after the Washington D.C. Conference we are doing a new technique called reduction therapy which is challenging at times but I do not give up because I have my speech therapist to help me when I need help. She is always there for me. I had coworkers that made fun of me because I stutter so it is challenging at work to do reduction therapy but I am trying with my speech therapist help and assistance. Without a therapist that is there for you therapy would be challenging to go to and not the same. My speech therapist has taught me a lot about stuttering that is why I decided to do another paper this year. Speech therapy has helped me and is continuing to help me because I have such an excellent therapist that is working with me!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hi Ella,
I do reduction therapy at work and some days it is easier than other days. I do the reduction therapy at work and I hope that I do it correctly. Sometimes I think I do it wrong especially with the fillers. I am having a difficult time with the fillers. I will get there but it takes time and it does not happen overnight. I am glad I still go to her for therapy. She is just amazing!!!!! I learn so much from my wonderful speech therapist whose name is Nancy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you so much Jill for sharing the experience and I am excited about your second paper as well. Congratulations for meeting an outstanding SLP that fits you and really helps you. I think it is also your persevere and great effort to bring all of the fluency enhancement into happening. It’s definitely a wonderful team work! Hooray!!!
Hi Jill,
Wow, your second paper!!!! I’m so very proud of you and what you have accomplished!!!! For anyone who might be reading this, Jill is my wonderful sister-in-law! Her middle name should be perservere! She pushes through the hard times and just keeps telling herself that no matter how difficult, she knows she will always keep getting better with therapy. Nancy, Jill’s Speech Therapist, has been someone Jill can count on for support with Jill’s stuttering and insecurities. She helps her with so many strategies that Jill continues to work on every day, in every situation. We are all so proud of you Jill and all the hurdles you continue to jump over every day! You are doing amazing!!!
Hi Jen,
Thank you so much for taking the time to read the paper and write a comment. The comment is so nice. It means a lot. Reduction therapy id really helping a lot and with Nancy’s support it is great!! I learn different strategies each time I go to see Nancy and to talk about my week so it helps a lot. Speech makes a difference!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you again for reading it.
Jill Shamp
Hi Jill,
Thank you for writing about your experience with speech therapy and a wonderful therapist. I am a student majoring in Speech-Language Pathology and reading this paper and additional comments have really given me valuable insight into the interpersonal skills a speech therapist needs. So I just wanted to thank you for giving this information out and helping out future SLPs. Keep up your hard work!
Best,
Katie
Hi Katie,
Thank you for taking the time to read my paper. I am really fortunate to have such a wonderful speech therapist that is always there for me and helps me. She goes the extra mile for me. I am lucky to have her!!!!!!!!!!!
Jill Shamp
Hi Jill,
I really enjoyed reading your paper about your positive experience with your speech therapist! I am studying to become a speech and language pathologist, and I always love to hear personal stories of people whose lives are touched by someone in this field. In addition to your fantastic speech therapist, it sounds like you have a solid support system from your family. You mentioned in a previous post that you attended speech therapy in elementary school and privately, then your mother noticed more recently that you were stuttering. Was the therapy you received as a child also focussed mainly on stuttering? And do you believe it went away between elementary school and when you started back up with speech therapy in 2012?
Thanks!
Courtney
Hi Courtney,
Thank you for taking the time to read my paper. When I was younger I went to speech therapy to work on sounds but not on stuttering and even in elementary through high school. My speech therapist were not nearly as great as the one as I have now. The one I have now is just amazing she goes above and beyond with helping me with reduction therapy and she never gives up when it is a challenge for me. She is always there for me and I love going to her because it helps my self-esteem!!!!!!!!!!!
Jill
Jill,
I am a student in the master’s program for speech-language pathology. I was excited to read your article because we are currently learning about the importance searching for a good speech-language pathologist rather than a treatment method. Through my fluency class, we had the opportunity to pseudo-stutter in public to get an idea of the emotional impact stuttering has on a person. Although a speech therapist who does not stutter will never know what a person who stutters is going through, he/she can work with clients to create a functional treatment plan. We also talked about accepting stuttering and embracing your differences in society. It was neat to be able to see that what I am learning in class relates to your story. Your story has opened my eyes to what a speech therapist should look like. I hope that I will be able to make as much as an impact on my clients as your speech therapist has made on you!
Thank you for sharing your story!
Chelsea
Hello Chelsea,
Thank you for taking the time to read my paper. My speech therapist is just wonderful!!! I am very fortunate to have such a special speech therapist that is always there for her clients goes the extra mile for them. I am so happy that you liked my paper.
Thank you for this uplifting paper Jill! I am currently going through my Master’s program to become a speech therapist and it is great to hear how wonderful your SLP is to you! I hope to be just as good to my potential clients! Since you have accepted openly stuttering in public due to your SLP, what has been the biggest challenge for you now and/or what changes have you observed in your daily life when speaking with others and not trying to inhibit the stuttering?
Thank you for reading my paper the biggest challenge for me is work. It can be difficult at work doing reduction therapy at times because I do not want to be made fun of my stuttering because I do not feel accepted where I work at because I got made fun of right before the school year ended. That is what I feel the biggest challenge is to me and even at times family can be a challenge at times. With my speech therapist help I take it one day at a time. Without her I would not know what to do. She is fabulous!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jill
Hi Jill,
Thank you so much for sharing your experience in working with your speech therapist. I am currently a speech pathology graduate student and this paper has provided me with some great insight on the therapist I want to be. I think the strong bond between yourself and your speech therapist is inspiring and your paper shows how important that a client-patient relationship is. I also thought it was great how your speech therapist went to the National Stuttering Association Washington D.C Conference with you and that you got to enjoy that experience together. I am now going to put a special emphasis on making sure that I am a good listener and supporter of my clients and have a better idea of how to treat a stuttering client. Thank you for sharing your story, I learned a lot from it!
Thank you so much for taking the time to read my paper. I am so glad that you liked the paper and that you learned from it. I am very lucky having such a wonderful speech therapist that is always there for her clients.
Jill
Hi Jill,
Thank you so much for sharing your story about your SLP. It is encouraging to read about your positive experiences with her. Currently, I am in graduate school for speech-language pathology; I hope to leave a positive impact on my clients just as Nancy has done for you! I was wondering how your therapist, Nancy, differs from the speech therapists you had before? What does Nancy do for you that the others did not? Also, how do you feel or perceive yourself as a communicator now?
Thanks again for sharing!
Erin
Hi Erin,
Thank you for taking the time to read my paper. I am so glad that you liked it. The first time that I started going to Nancy I knew that she was the right speech therapist for me to help me with my stuttering. She made me feel important and always made me feel comfortable being with her from the first time that I met her. Other speech therapist, it took me longer to build a rapport with them and it was difficult. Nancy always helped me with new strategies and if I did not understand something she never gets mad at me. Nancy is working with me with reduction therapy and it can be challenging but I am taking it one day at a time. I am trying to talk more even though I stutter at times. I am very lucky having Nancy as my speech therapist!
JillI
Hello Jill,
While being a student in the process of becoming a speech-language pathologist, it is always fantastic to hear that individuals really enjoy working with their therapists. Reading how much you enjoy working with your therapist and how helpful she is inspiring to hear. I did have a question about the app “MyLynel” that you use. Do you use it often, if so how often? Also do you use it for anything else other than listening to your own voice or listening to your therapist’s voice? Do you feel that this app is something that you can continue to use throughout your time in therapy and after therapy, or is it just something that you would use in the therapy setting? One final question, was the app expensive for you to purchase and did you have to buy anything additional on the app to help make it functional for you?
I look forward to hearing from you. Thank you so much for sharing your story!
Stephanie.
Hi Stephanie,
Thank you for taking the time to read my paper. At the beginning with Nancy we did MyLynel but as time went on we stopped using the app because I did not need to listen to my voice or to my speech therapist voice. I needed to talk more so I did. MyLynel was free and it helped to listen to my voice and even to my speech therapist voice. I am very fortunate having a fabulous speech therapist that is helpful and is working with me with reduction therapy.
Jill
I am currently in graduate school studying to become a speech-language pathologist. I completely agree with you in that the SLP needs to have a good relationship with his or her client. I believe it is important to show the client that you are not only there to support them 30 minutes a week during therapy sessions, but that you are there to answer any questions and help with any situations when it comes to stuttering. You said that you had just started speech therapy in August 2012. Have you always had a fluency disorder? If so, why did you start therapy 2 years ago? Thanks!
Thank you for taking the time to read my paper. I always had a speech problem when I was younger. I was in speech therapy when I was in elementary school, middle school, and even high school. My speech therapist was not the same as it is today. I always had a fluency problem. I believe my stuttering started in 2012. My speech therapist is helping me now and it is well worth it. Nancy is excellent at what he does and is always there and is helpful to and knows how to help me with my stuttering. It can be challenging at times but with Nancy she makes a difference!!
Jill
Hi Jill,
Reading your article while in graduate school to become an SLP was so helpful! It emphases the importance of a good therapy support system. Hopefully, in the years to come, I will become an SLP that is as helpful as Nancy is to you!
You mentioned that Nancy came with you to the National Stuttering Association’s Washington D.C Conference this summer and I was hoping you could provide more information about how her attendance to the event with you was helpful. Is it helpful for therapists to attend these types of events with their clients?
Thank you for sharing your story as it gave me something to strive for in my future career!
All the best,
Samantha
(Graduate Student)
Hi Samantha,
Thank you for taking the time to read my paper. I was glad that Nancy came to the National Stuttering Association’s Washington D.C. Conference in the summer. It helped me because it was my first time ever going to one and we went to many workshops together and we came back we talked about it in my session and even started to do reduction therapy from the conference. Next year we both are going to Chicago!! Nancy is a great therapist that is always helping me with my stuttering. It is challenging to stutter but I take it one day at a time.
Jill
Hi Jill,
As a speech-language pathology graduate student it is uplifting and inspiring to hear what a wonderful influence your speech therapist has been on you through your journey! You seem to have such a positive outlook on your speech and speech therapy in general. You mentioned that your therapist works on certain strategies with you to help improve your speech, does she also work with you on maintaining a positive attitude and perspective on your stuttering? Also, you said that you started working with Nancy a few years ago, what is the biggest difference you see in Nancy compared to other therapists you may have had in the past that make her such a great therapist?
Thank you again for sharing your story!
Laura
Hi Laura,
Thank you for taking the time out to read my paper. It is important to have a therapist that is always there for the clients. Nancy is always there for me and goes out of her way to help me with new strategies such as reduction therapy. She is a fabulous speech therapist and I she helps me so much with my stuttering. Without her I would still be quiet. My other speech therapist were not like her and I do not remember how they were.
Hi Jill,
Thank you for sharing your story. As a current Graduate Student in Speech Language Pathology, one of the biggest things I want to learn is how to impact my client the most. It is very informative to me to read your thoughts about a good therapist. The client-therapist relationship is the most important factor in fluency success. It is obvious that your relationship with your current speech therapist has greatly influenced your success. I believe the character traits you have used to describe your speech therapist (being a good listener and always being there for you) are the upmost important for being a successful and supportive SLP. I am very glad that you have a wonderful relationship with Nancy. I hope one day to make as big of an impact on my clients as Nancy has done for you.
Again, thank you for sharing!
Best,
Crystal
Hi Crystal,
Thank you for taking the time to read my paper!!!!!!!!!! I am lucky having Nancy as a speech therapist!!!!!!!!!!
Jill
Jill,
Your article was wonderful to read. I am currently a graduate student studying to become a speech language pathologist. It is amazing to read about the amazing relationship you have with your clinician. I think it is significant for the speech language pathologist and the client to have positive and healthy relationship. When you went to the National Stuttering Association, you and the speech therapist learned strategies. My question for you is: was there ever a strategy or technique that the clinician wanted to implement and you were not comfortable with? Was there a technique implemented and you were not getting the outcomes that you wanted? How did you and the clinician discuss the situation?
Thank you,
Safa
Hi Safa,
Thank you for taking the time to read my paper. There was never a time that I was uncomfortable with something that Nancy would implement for me. Nancy implemented reduction therapy and it can be challenging at times but with Nancy’s help I take it one day at a time. If I need to go back over something with Nancy we can. It is not to how fast we go in reduction therapy. It is based on my goals. Sometimes I might have to go back to older goals such as keeping my fingers away from my mouth or even eye contact. It varies. I just started doing reduction therapy with Nancy in July so it is still pretty new to me.
Jill
Hi Jill!,
Reading this was very inspiring. I am also working on being less convert and I always forget to remind myself that being less convert does not occur overnight. Its encouraging to read about the changes you made and the results you have achieved. Having a good speech therapist is very important and I agree with the points you made. I have a speech therapist similar to the SLP described in your paper and she’s the reason a lot has changed for me. She provides an environment for me to be myself and as you know its very hard for a person who stutters to be genuine around others. Your paper portrays enthusiasm and a positive attitude. It was a pleasure reading.
Dave
Hi Dave,
Thank you for taking the time to read my paper. Nancy is a great speech therapist to me!!!!!!!!!!! She is the BEST and is working with me with reduction therapy which is not easy. It is not easy to stutter but with having Nancy it makes it easier!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jill
Hi Jill!
I really enjoyed your story. It was so encouraging to me. I am a graduate student majoring in Communication Sciences and Disorders. I hope to one day become an SLP were I might make a difference, just like your SLP has made a difference in your life. In looking for a speech therapist, was there a particular quality you were looking for? What made you choose your current SLP? Can you tell me more about your speech therapy in elementary school? Did it help? Why or why not?
Thanks,
Angela
Hi Angela,
Thank you for taking the time to read my paper. My parents did research to find the right speech therapist that was trained in stuttering. They heard a lot about Nancy and when my mom spoke to Nancy and when I spoke to Nancy for the first time on the phone I just loved her and wanted her to be my speech therapist!!!!!!!!!!!! Nancy knows her material about stuttering and even about reduction therapy what she is doing with me now. My speech therapist in elementary school was okay and she went over the sounds but not over stuttering because I was young. In elementary school it helped for the language but I had a learning disability in language/reading comprehension. Going to see Nancy now helps a lot!!!!!!!!!!!
Jill
Thank you for replying to my post. I am so happy for you. Finding the right SLP and treatment approach that works for you is imperative. Although, the work ethic you have is also essential for stuttering intervention to be successful. Keep up the great work! Tell Nancy “THANK YOU!” for being a positive leader for all SLP professionals and an inspiration for graduate students like myself. I have one more question if you have time to answer. The literature discusses the importance of early intervention in preventing incipient stuttering. Looking back, do you feel that your elementary SLP was untrained/unaware of early intervention?
Thank you so much for taking the time to read my paper!! It meant a lot to me. I will for sure tell her that. I am so lucky having her as my speech therapist. Looking back in elementary school my speech therapist did my sounds with me than stuttering because I was young and I started talking late too. It made it difficult having a learning disability. Nancy is a true gem to me and my hero!!!!!!!!!!!!! I know you will be just like her when you are finished with school!
Jill
Hi Jill,
Thank you so much for sharing your story and being so specific about the treatment approaches that worked for you. I am studying to become a speech therapist and hope that I can help people in the future just as your amazing therapist has helped you. I have learned that no two people who stutter are alike, but learning about what worked for you and hearing about ‘MyLynel’ from you for the first time, will, perhaps, be one more treatment approach I now know about so that I could help someone else in the future. Are there any other technologies or apps that you have tried?
Hi Rachel,
Thank you for taking the time to read my paper. My speech therapist and I did easy recording on the cell phone, and tape recorder on the cell phone which are apps that you could record your clients voice and also your voice so your client can listen to your voice and know how it should sound. Currently, Nancy is doing reduction therapy with me which at times it can be challenging but I have amazing therapist that is always there to help me when I need the help with the technique. It is still new for me.
Jill
Hi Jill,
Thank you for sharing your excitement; it is truly encouraging!
I have a couple of questions:
I was wondering what it was about your speech-language pathologist that specifically drew you to liking her so quickly. Was it how she built rapport and trust with you? How did she do that? Did she spend time letting you vent, voice your concerns, or share stories? I guess, I just wanted to know more specifics about what makes her so wonderful in your eyes? =D
Conversely, I have heard about several individuals who stutter who did not like speech therapy because of their therapist or the techniques he/ she was using. Would you have any insight into why individuals would think this?
Has there ever been a time when your therapist challenged you to a task that you were not comfortable with? How did she encourage you to push past the challenge?
Lastly, does she spend a lot of time counseling you or is most of the session spent on learning new and adapting old techniques?
Thanks so much.
~ Angelina
Hi Angelina,
From the first time that I met Nancy I knew that she was the right speech therapist for me. She was calm and very open with me and we knew a lot of people. We talked and from that day I just loved her as my speech therapist and knew that I could work with her to learn about stuttering. She lets me talk to her about anything that is bothering me about my work, family, and other things in general. She is always there for me. Nancy never says no to me. I cannot imagine my therapist doing this to me. My therapist is working on reduction therapy with me and it is challenging at times. It is very challenging at work. I feel like going into a closet at times at work but I try to take it one day at a time because I know I have a wonderful speech therapist that helps me and never gives up with me. We do reduction therapy and other strategies as easy onsets. We get to talk. Nancy is the BEST!!!!!!!!!!!! I love going to speech because it helps a lot!!!!!
Jill
Hi Jill,
Thanks for taking the time to write this paper and give the rest of us some insight into your world. Like some others, I am also a graduate student pursuing a career in speech language pathology. I was wondering how active a role you took in determining what type of treatment to try and/or continue in regards to your fluency?
Thank you!
Beth Smith
Hi Beth,
Thank you for taking the time to read my paper. My speech therapist and I decided to do different strategies that we felt that I needed to work on that dealt with stuttering such as easy onsets and low voice. Since we both came back from the conference in Washington D.C. Nancy is doing reduction therapy which is trying to get me out in the public and talking more and even to stutter more. It is challenging at times but it is okay because I have Nancy that helps that gets me through different phases with reduction therapy. It is not easy but I like doing it with Nancy.
Jill
Thanks so much for your reply! I really enjoy your input. It gives me a new perspective and will definitely help me in the future.
Thanks again!
Beth
Hi Jill,
First of all, I wanted to thank you so much for writing such a thoughtful paper about your experience as a person who stutters going through speech therapy. It is so wonderful to hear about someone who has had such a valuable and helpful experience with a speech therapist. I really enjoyed reading about the techniques that helped you, as well as your motivation and perseverance towards feeling more comfortable with your communication.
I am currently a graduate student in the area of Speech Language Pathology. Throughout my coursework, I have heard many stories of people who stutter having trouble finding a speech therapist who works towards the same goals as they do in a way that works for them, so I am overjoyed that you have found a clinician that you connect with! Nancy sounds like a wonderful fit for you. I hope that someday I will make as big of a difference with my clients as Nancy has for you!
Thank you so much for your insight and inspiration!
Rylie
Hi Rylie,
Thank you for taking the time to read my paper. Nancy is a fabulous speech therapist to me!! I love going to speech therapy because I get the help from her and she is just amazing!! She is working on reduction therapy with me which at times is challenging but with her help I do not give up.
Jill
Jill,
Thank you so much for posting and sharing about your experiences with your speech therapist! I am so excited for you to hear about your positive experiences. I am currently in a master’s program for Speech-Language Pathology, and one topic we have covered in my fluency class is the importance of being an excellent clinician with working with those who stutter. Like you have noted about your speech therapist, Nancy, we have discussed that it is important to develop a strong relationship those we are working with and really be a positive support system for them. I am so happy to hear that you developed such a strong bond and friendship with your speech therapist! I, and other aspiring SLPs, can learn from your story and apply it to our future profession!
Thank you!
Rachel
Hi Rachel,
Thank you for taking the time to read my paper!! Nancy is truly is wonderful person and an excellent speech therapist and I am so lucky having her in my life. I am so glad that she is my speech therapist and that she is working with me on reduction therapy even though it is challenging at times.
Jill
Hello Jill!
Your article was touching and invigorating for me. You see, I am currently in graduate school studying to become a licensed speech therapist. Your experience sounds wonderful and the fact that you’re sharing it is actually helping me and other people like me because it eludes to the fact that we CAN make a difference. That all this hard work can someday truly help others. Thank you for instilling that feeling! I’m very glad to hear that you’ve found an empathetic, caring, and motivated therapist. Nancy sounds like a pillar in our profession, a person that embraces her participants and faces challenges head on to obtain real results. That said, YOUR work is more than half of the equation! It’s marvelous to read that you are welcoming the hard work and effort of therapy and achieving empowering and efficacious results. May you have all the success in life that you deserve. All the best Jill!
Hi Ron,
Thank you for taking the time to read my paper and writing such a nice comment!! Good luck in graduate school.
Jill
Thank you Jill! It’s not luck at this point, just WORK, but for GREAT reason! Cheers!
Ron,
Thank you for your nice comment! Nancy loved your comment!!
Jill
Awww that’s great! Glad it got back to her. I think it’s important to know that the world appreciates great effort such as hers. All the best : )
Ron,
Thank you for such a nice comment. Wait till I tell Nancy!!! Nancy will be so happy. Nancy is just the best and a fabulous speech therapist and I love her!
Jill
Hello Jill,
Thank you so much for sharing your story. I am a current graduate student in Speech and Language Pathology, and stories like yours have a great impact on me and inform my future practice. Thank you!
If it is okay, I would like to ask you more about your relationship with Nancy. Is there anything that you have learned about yourself through working with Nancy that has surprised you? While working on your stuttering, is there any one thing or technique that has made you feel empowered? Do you use any additional apps or devices besides MyLynel? Besides this online conference, do you participate in any online groups or forums for people who stutter?
Thank you very much for your time!
Sincerely,
Elizabeth Rose
Hi Elizabeth,
Thank you for reading my paper. Nothing that I learned from Nancy has surprised me because she is just wonderful and she takes the time to help me with reduction therapy. I do easy on sets and low voice. Besides MyLynel I use easy recorder and live recorder that can be on your cellphone. Besides the online conference, I go to a support group that meets once a month on a Wednesday in Boca for people who stutter. Nancy is truly a wonderful speech therapist that I have and I am very lucky to have her!!!!
Jill
Hi Jill,
Thank you so much for your thoughtful response. I really appreciate it!
Sincerely,
Elizabeth Rose
Hi Jill,
I am currently a graduate student in speech-language pathology, therefore, when I saw the title of your paper, I immediately felt that it would be beneficial to read-and it was! As an aspiring clinician, it is absolutely wonderful to hear the positive impact your speech therapist had on you. I agree with you in thinking that it is integral for speech therapists to provide comfort and support, yet also provide challenging activities that will help you achieve the goals that you desire. In my fluency class, we talked about how speech therapists must be empathetic and understanding towards all their clients, although we may not know the thoughts and feelings he/she may be experiencing on a daily basis. Have you ever had a rather negative experience with a speech therapist? I hope to impact my future clients just like Nancy, your clinician did!
Thanks for sharing,
Allie
Hi Allie,
Thank you for taking the time to read my paper. I did not care for my speech therapist in high school. I always hated going to therapy in high school that I would forget to go. I am glad that Nancy is the BEST and is always there to help me when I need the help with a new speech technique. Nancy is working with me on reduction therapy. She is a fabulous therapist and I am so lucky having her in my life!!
Jill
I enjoyed reading about your therapy process and how your SLP is making a positive impact in the process! The fact that you went to the conference together in WAshington, D.C is amazing. You are right, she really does care about you and your progress! She must be very happy to have a client like who who works so hard. I am an SLP student so this was very good to read. It helped me realize how important it is to be there for the client and let them know that you care. What do you mean when you say you work on low, medium, and high assignments? Have you ever voluntary stuttered in public as an assignment? If so, do you think it was beneficial? Thanks in advance! -Ashley
Hi Ashley,
Thank you for reading my paper. My speech therapist Nancy works with me on reduction therapy and the assignments are broken down into low categories, medium, and high. My low category would be my speech therapist, her husband, and my nephews. The medium would be going to temple on a Friday night and some restaurants. The high would be work, family, talking on the phone, etc. I would work on different avoidances not to hide my stuttering. I really haven’t tried voluntary stuttering in public as an assignment. I need more practice with stuttering in public. Nancy is fabulous and I am so lucky having her as my speech therapist!!!!
Jill
Hi Jill,
Thanks so much for sharing your experiences with us. Like many others here, I am studying to become an SLP, and it is so great to hear about positive experiences like yours. It always reassures me that I have chosen the right field!
One thing we are learning in my fluency class is to also address the client’s communication strengths during assessment, as well as the aspects that need to be improved. We’ve learned that this helps build confidence as well as takes some of the focus off weaker aspects of communication. I was just wondering if your speech therapist did something like this with you when you began therapy, or if you think it would be beneficial?
I’m so glad you are having such a great experience!
Thank you!
Kimzey
Hi Kimzey,
Thank you for reading my paper! When I went to Nancy the first time I had a comprehensive initial evaluation which assessed speech fluency as well as my thoughts, feelings, and attitudes about speech. It showed Nancy where to help me and now she is doing reduction therapy with me with strategies that I learned in speech. Nancy is the BEST speech therapist that there is in South Florida!!!!!!!!!!!!! I admire her and she is my gem.
Jill
Hi Jill,
Thank you for sharing your experience with your speech therapist so openly! I am a second year graduate student aspiring to become a speech therapist myself and found your connection with your speech therapist inspiring. I am wondering how often you see your speech therapist currently and what a session typically looks like for you two? Do you spend a portion of the session working on the physical management of your stuttering behaviors, and another portion working on counseling and acceptance; Or is it all intertwined? Also does the reduction therapy seem to transfer well from the therapy room to real-life situation, or have you found any difficulty with transferring what you have been learning?
Thanks again for sharing!
Sarah
Hi Sarah,
Thank you so much for taking the time to read my paper! I meet with Nancy two times a month for an hour. We talk about what happened with the assignments with the reduction therapy and with what is bothering me with my speech tools. At times it is challenging with reduction therapy especially at work but Nancy is always there to give me the support. It takes time and it does not happen overnight. I go out in the real world to do reduction therapy which can be challenging but I do it and it makes me not sit in my apartment like I used to. Work can be a challenge but I take it one day at a time. I love seeing Nancy and having her as a speech therapist!!!
Jill
Hi Jill,
My name is Nicole and I am currently in my last year of graduate school for Speech and Language Pathology. First off I would like to say thank you for sharing your experience with your speech therapist. I am sure Nancy is grateful that she was able to make such a difference in your life. In order to better myself as a future SLP I was wondering what personal qualities Nancy demonstrated to you that made your experience so wonderful? What made her an excellent SLP in your eyes? Do you wish you would have looked for her services earlier?
Thank you,
Nicole
Hi Nicole,
Thank you for taking the time to read my paper! The qualities that makes Nancy a wonderful speech therapist is that she is great listener, is there for me whenever I need her, is emphatic, and cares. Nancy is a gem to me!!! Without her I do not know what I would do. She had made a big impact on me. Nancy has taught me different strategies such as slide-outs, easy-onsets, and reduction therapy which at times can be challenging but with Nancy I am very lucky for her support that I do no give up with the new technique. I am enjoying reduction therapy even though it can be challenging at times. I wish my parents and I would have found Nancy earlier but we didn’t but at least I have her now and I am getting the help. I love going to her and working on reduction therapy with her. Nancy teaches me so much!!! She is a gem to me!! I admire Nancy for being such a fabulous speech therapist!!!!!!
Jill
Hi Jill,
Thank you so much for sharing your inspiring story! I am currently a graduate student in the field of Speech-Language Pathology and I can only hope I will inspire my clients the way that your speech therapist Nancy has done for you. One of the reasons I went into this field was because I wanted to be able to make a positive impact on other people. Your story is so encouraging and reassures me that SLPs can be so important in people’s lives. I’m so glad that your speech therapist has helped your self-esteem. You stated in your paper that your speech therapist is a good listener, she is always there for you, she makes it okay to stutter, and she makes you want to go to therapy. I want to make sure I create a similar environment for all of my clients when I become a practicing SLP because you make it so clear that this is important as a person receiving speech therapy. Thanks again for sharing! I found your paper to be very encouraging as a future SLP!
Brittney
Hi Brittney,
Thank you for taking your time to read my paper!! Nancy is a gem and my hero to me!!! She is a special speech therapist to me and I am so fortunate to have her in my life. I am learning so much from her. She is just amazing!! I know you will be the same way. If you have any questions you are more than welcome to write back. Thank you again for your nice comment. I really appreciate it.
Jill
Hi Jill,
As a future SLP, I found your story inspiring. It is comforting knowing that an individual, such as yourself, was able to connect with a speech therapist that truly is with you every step of the way. I am currently enrolled in a fluency course and we have spent a lot of time discussing the important qualities of a clinician and the crucial role, as well as responsibilities, of the clinician. I enjoyed reading about how wonderful your therapist is and how well of a listener she is. Can you give me some specific details in regards as to how and why your clinician is so wonderful? As a future SLP, I am curious as to what exactly led you to have such a great connection with your therapist. Did you meet with other therapists before deciding on Nancy? Is there something in particular that she does while listening to you that makes you feel so comfortable? Also, what kinds of things did she do when you first began therapy that allowed you two to establish such great rapport? As a student who will be working in the field in just two short years, I am extremely eager to learn the answers to these questions so I can be the best clinician possible. I hope to one day be someone’s “Nancy.”
Thank you so much for sharing your story.
Meghan
Hi Meghan,
Thank you for taking the time to read my paper! Nancy is wonderful because she listens and lets me talk to her about my problems. She explains different strategies to me such as easy onsets, slide-outs, and now we are doing reduction therapy. Nancy never gets annoyed with me when I stutter and she accepts me for who I am!!! I could tell her anything. From the first time that I met her I knew that she was going to be my speech therapist and it was going to work out. She is patient and listens to me. She build rapport and most of all is trust!!! Nancy is a gem to me and my hero!!! I admire Nancy and she is a fabulous speech therapist that I have and I am learning so much about reduction therapy. Good luck with finishing up with school! You will be like Nancy one day! That is a very nice compliment.
Jill
Hi Jill,
Thank you so much for sharing your story! It is so wonderful to hear that you are having success! You mentioned that you went to speech therapy when you were younger and then in reply to another question you mentioned that you were quiet for a long time. I wondered about that period in your life and how long you were not speaking. Also, if that was just specific situations or around certain people? What did Nancy do initially to build the relationship with you and make you want to work with her? It sounds like you are doing an amazing job yourself so make sure you are giving yourself credit for working so hard!
Thanks,
Jocelyn
Hi Jocelyn,
Thank you for taking the time to read my paper! I went to speech therapy in elementary school, sometimes in middle school, and skipped a lot in high school because I did not like my speech therapist and she was nothing like Nancy. In certain situations I can be quiet. It depends where I am. From the first time I met Nancy, I knew she was going to be my speech therapist because I could connect with her because of her personality. She is calm, patient, and is a great listener!!! Nancy is a gem and I admire her for what she does for me!!! She is a fabulous speech therapist and I am so grateful to have her!
Jill
Hi Jill!
I am a graduate student studying speech-language pathology and am currently in a fluency disorders class. It is wonderful to hear about your success through speech therapy! It’s rewarding to read stories like yours to know speech therapists can and do make a difference. Was she the first and only speech therapist you went to? Also, when did you realize she was the right speech therapist for you? I think it’s great you and your clinician experienced sessions together at the National Stuttering Association. This proves she is committed to helping you and enhancing her knowledge and skills to better serve her clients. How long did it take for you to successfully learn and use the strategies in places other than the therapy room? Thank you so much for sharing your story and your appreciation for you speech therapist.
Nicole
Hi Nicole,
Thank you for taking the time to read my paper! I went to speech therapy in schools. But Nancy was the first person out from school that I went to and I am so glad that we found her to this day. I am grateful to have her as my speech therapist!!! I knew it from the start as of August of 2012 that she was the right person for me. I am so glad that we both had the opportunity to go to the conference together in Washington D.C. I apply the strategies to where I go and now Nancy and I are doing reduction therapy. Reduction therapy is where I apply it to the outside world which can be challenging at times but I take it one day at a time. With my speech therapist help it makes a difference!!! I am so glad that I have Nancy and I truly admire her!!!!!
Jill
Jill,
I would like to first thank you for sharing your story. It sounds like you have established a good relationship with your speech therapist. As a speech pathology student I am particularly interested in knowing exactly what it is about your speech therapist that is the most helpful? Is there a specific strategy that he or she developed that you find to be the most useful? Also, how does she encourage you to continue when a technique becomes challenging?
Thank you again for sharing your story!
-Alyssa
Hi,
Thank you for reading my paper!!! My speech therapist goes over different strategies with me such as slide-outs, easy-onsets, and pausing. Nancy is teaching me about reduction therapy which is a great strategy which at times can be stressful but it is well worth the work. I am learning a lot from Nancy. She encourages me when something is difficult by not giving up because she is always there for me!! She is the BEST speech therapist in South Florida!!!!!!! She is a gem and a hero to me!!!
Jill
Hi Jill,
Thank you for writing about your experiences with you speech therapist. I am currently in school studying to become a speech language pathologist and so your input and perspective are really helpful for me! You have such positive things to say about your speech therapist, I hope that one day I can be a helpful speech therapist too.
You talked a little bit about some of the different strategies that you work on with your speech therapist. Are there certain strategies that she has enlisted that help more with the acceptance and emotional part of stuttering than just the speech part? You also said that a lot of these strategies do not work overnight, does your speech therapist do anything to help you get through if it seems to take longer than you would like it to?
Thanks again for your awesome post!
Marcella
Hi Marcella,
Thank you for taking the time to read my paper!! There are not certain strategies that my speech therapist has enlisted that has helped me more with the acceptance and emotional part of stuttering than the speech part. Talking to her helps overall and using a low voice helps. My speech therapist is working on a new therapy called reduction therapy which is new ever sine we both have gotten back from the conference!! It helps but I am working on it everyday. Some days are easier than other days. That is with anything. I still do slide-outs, easy-onsets, and pausing. Nancy is an amazing speech therapist and she is fabulous.
Jill
Hello Jill,
I am currently a speech-language pathology graduate student taking a class on stutter for the first time. Thank you for sharing your perspective as a person who stutters. I am glad to hear that you developed such a positive relationship with your SLP. Your story helped me to gain insight into how an SLP can effectively teach clients new strategies and encourage clients to become better communicators. It was very helpful that you talked about the qualities that made your SLP so special, such as being a great listener, going the extra mile, gaining your trust, and improving your self esteem. She also seemed to really help you by challenging you to learn and use a variety of different techniques, such as such as easy onsets, slide-outs, and using a soft voice. For example, I thought it was awesome that you and your SLP went to the Washington D.C. Stuttering Conference together and decided to try a new reduction therapy technique based on that experience. Reduction therapy sounds like a great way to help a client reflect on his or her own experiences with stuttering as well as help their clinician better understand the challenges associated with stuttering. I really like the part of this technique where you categorized the areas to work on each week based on the level of difficulty (low, medium, and high). I hope that you continue to progress in your therapy, and that one day I can have the same positive impact on a client that your SLP has had on you. Best of luck!
-Kristine
Hi Kristine,
Thank you for taking the time to read my paper and to write such a nice comment!!! Nancy is an awesome speech therapist and a gem!!! She is a great speech therapist in South Florida!!!!! I am glad that she is working with me with reduction therapy!!!
Jill
Hi Jill,
I was very encouraged to read of your positive experience with your SLP. As a graduate student in speech-langauge pathology, I have learned that connecting and empathizing with your client is half the battle of providing quality therapy. As a clinician at a stuttering clinic, I had the opportunity to walk in the footsteps of my client by pseudostuttering on the phone and in the community. It helped me to gain a perspective on the everyday challenges confronted by my client. I hope to follow in the footsteps of your SLP, Nancy.
Thank you for sharing!!
Sara
Hi Sara,
Thank you for taking the time to read my paper!!! There are not many people like Nancy!!! I am very fortunate to have Nancy as my speech therapist and to be learning reduction therapy. Thank you again for commenting on my paper.
Jill
Hi Jill,
My name is Kayla and I am currently a graduate student studying speech-language pathology. Thank you for this wonderful post. It is so important to have rapport, trust, and a good relationship with a therapist. Not only does it benefit the client, but it also impacts the therapist. I look forward to being someone’s “Nancy” in the future! I noticed that you mentioned in a reply to a comment that you sometimes find your job difficult because of your stuttering. What are some strategies/techniques that you use to overcome difficulties in your workplace and daily life? Also, I noticed that you have a very supportive family. How important do you think family involvement is for acceptance and management of stuttering?
Thank you for your story and time,
Kayla Wooten
Hi Kayla,
Thank you for taking the time to read my paper and commenting on it!!! I am doing reduction therapy at work which it can be challenging at times but I am trying to do it. There are certain teachers that tend to look at me weird and I had someone made fun of me last year right before the school year ended. I wish I would feel accepted at the school where I work at but I do not. I hope to one day at a different school. I think that family involvement is very important for acceptance for stuttering. Nancy is wonderful to me!!! She is just the BEST!!!!!!!!!
Jill
Hi Jill,
I am a graduate student studying to become a speech language pathologist. I’m so happy that you have such a positive experience with your speech language pathologist. I appreciate that you mentioned that your speech language pathologist has helped you improve your self esteem. I have learned that part of speech language pathology is counseling and building relationships with clients and it is so nice to hear first hand how beneficial that is!
Thank you!
Aviva
Hi Aviva,
Thank you for taking the time to read my paper and commenting on it!!! Nancy is a gem to me and the BEST!!!!!!!! I am fortunate to have her as my speech therapist.
Jill
Jill,
As an individual who stutters and a graduate student studying to become an SLP, your words impacted me deeply. My experience with speech therapy was not always positive but I have since had some eye opening experiences that helped me see and understand that I should not hide my stuttering. I am glad that you were able to have such a good experience with your speech therapist and that it continues.
McKenzie Jemmett
P.S. Would you give any advice to other SLPs? I can think of a few things but I would love another person’s perceptive.
Hi McKenzie,
Thank you for taking the time to read my paper and commenting on it!!! I had an awful speech therapist in high school that I would skip and not attend. It was that bad that I do not remember. I am so glad that Nancy is nothing like that. Last year I wrote a paper on being a covert but I am trying not to be a covert and it takes a lot of work that is why I am doing reduction therapy with my speech therapist. Nancy is awesome and the BEST!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jill
Jill,
Thank you so much for sharing your story. Like many others that have posted I am in graduate school studying to be an SLP. I found this paper to be very helpful to me as a future SLP. I have read many posts on this site that are not always so positive about the therapy people have received. I am currently taking a class on fluency and feel as if your paper really opened my eyes to what people are looking for in a speech therapist. Of course we are all striving to be good at what we do but to hear what you value in your SLP really hit home and made it real to me.
I was just wondering what it was that made you decide to start therapy? Did you do significant research to find Nancy?
I can only hope to someday have such an impact as a therapist. Thanks again for sharing.
Katie
Hi Katie,
Thank you for taking the time to read my paper and comment on it!!! It was bothering my mom the way I was talking so I asked my mom to look into finding me a speech therapist so she did with a lot of research. My mom asked her friend and her friend gave us Nancy and since then she has been my speech therapist. Nancy is a great and awesome speech therapist!! I an lucky to have her.
Jill
Hi Jill,
I truly appreciate your unique perspective. As a graduate student in speech-language pathology, it is truly encouraging to hear that you have had such a positive experience in speech therapy to treat your stutter. I can only imagine how strongly your words impacted your therapist. It is personal accounts like yours that make me realize what an impact speech-language services have on an individual’s life.
As a teacher, what aspect of stuttering do you feel has the greatest impact on your ability to communicate? I know you mentioned therapy targeting low, medium, and high aspects of your day-to-day experiences, but I was curious what strategy has been most helpful for you in your pursuit of teaching? Where have you experienced the most success after starting therapy?
Thanks again for your great perspective. It is always important to hear from the other view of speech-language pathology – not from the professional therapist but from the person receiving the services.
Nicole Q.
Hi Nicole,
Thank you for taking the time to read my paper and to make such a nice comment! I tend to hide my stuttering when I teach so the students do not know that I stutter. It does not get in the way with me teaching and if it does I would use a low voice or a slide-out, or pausing. Using a low voice helps when I feel I am going to stutter because it decreases the stuttering with the pausing. Reduction therapy helps with getting me to talk to people and I am working on it everyday. Some days are easier than other days. Nancy is awesome!!! I am fortunate having her as my speech therapist!
Jill
Hi Jill,
I enjoyed reading about what you find helpful in your speech therapist- she sounds like a truly great one! There is one thing that you stated that particularly stood out to me: “If I stutter it is for sure okay because my speech therapist does not want me to hide my stuttering.” I think this is a really important point to make and a really important concept for speech therapists to emphasize. For you to know that it is ok to stutter is a huge part of feeling confident in yourself and confident in your ability to communicate. Thank you for sharing your experience!
Thanks,
Emily
Hi Emily,
Thank you for reading my paper and writing a nice comment!! Nancy is truly a great speech therapist to me!! She is a gem and she is working with me with reduction therapy. I just started reduction therapy back in middle July. It is still new. At times I am still learning it.
Jill
Jill,
Thank you so much for sharing your positive experiences with your speech pathologist, Nancy. I am a first year graduate student in speech pathology, and it is so motivating to me to hear about how much of a difference a speech pathologist can make in your life by introducing techniques and skills that motivate you.
You mentioned that some of the skills that she has is being a good listener and that she improved your self-esteem. I would hope that one day I could accomplish for someone what Nancy has done for you! In my fluency class we have learned the importance of finding a speech pathologist that is right for you. By reading your story, this has definitely been confirmed.
Thanks again!
Kylie
Hi Kylie,
Thank you for taking the time to read my paper and writing a comment. Nancy is truly the BEST speech therapist and I am lucky having her. I am learning a lot about reduction therapy.
Jill
Hi Jill,
Thank you so much for sharing your story! I am a graduate student studying to become a SLP. I love to hear about great clinicians and hope that I’ll be able to impact someone’s life like Nancy has yours. I am very interested in the reduction therapy you and your clinician use. How did you begin your reduction therapy? Did you start with only the low goals, and then throughout the weeks increase your goals to include middle and high? Do you change the goals you focus on each week based on what occurred the prior week? Also in the beginning how did Nancy help you be more comfortable outside of therapy to start meeting those goals you set up?
Thanks again,
Brenna
Hi Brenna,
Thank you for taking the time to read my paper and to comment on it! We started reduction therapy. We did it with the low, medium, and the high with such as eye contact, no fingers by mouth, not getting up from the table from family events. At work it can be challenging talking to different teachers and not everyone is accepted that I stutter. Some restaurants that I go to are high, medium, and even low. I have different assignment for different activities. Reduction therapy gets me out from my apartment. I think of the goals each time I see Nancy for the week to work on for my assignments. It can be challenging at times but I do not give up. I still work on slide-outs, pausing, and using a low voice. Nancy is truly an awesome speech therapist and I am so lucky having her!
Jill
Hi Jill,
Thanks so much for sharing your story! As a graduate student in speech-language pathology, it is very encouraging to read your kind words about the impact your speech therapist had on your life and your stuttering. It was very inspiring to read about how you have opened up to your speech therapist and realized how important it is to have a good relationship! What made you realize that Nancy was the right speech therapist for you? I am looking forward to learning more about stuttering treatment in my fluency course I am taking right now, and your story helped me learn even more.
Thanks again!
Rachel
Hi Rachel,
Thank you so much for taking the time to read my paper! From the first time I met Nancy I knew she was the one for me. I felt comfortable when I was working with her and talking to her. I could talk to her and she listens and makes me feel important from the first time that I met her. I am so glad that she is my speech therapist!!!! Nancy is a true gem and is awesome! She is just the BEST!! I am very fortunate to have her as my speech therapist.
Jill