 About the Author:
Mandy Rodstrom lives in Westerville, Ohio outside of Columbus where she grew up. She is a person who stutters and an 18 year school based Speech Language Pathologist. After 30+ years of living as a covert stutterer, Mandy is stepping out and beginning her journey to meet and embrace her stutter and her fellow Stuttering community members. Professionally, this has propelled her to become a Stuttering Specialist. She attends as many stuttering community events as she can! Some personal fun facts about her include, she is married to her college sweetheart and they have three children. When not engaged in all things stuttering, you can find her spending time with her family, enjoying the outdoors, going on long walks, reading, cooking/baking, listening to music, exercising, traveling, watching The Office or Parks and Rec on repeat, or having a family dance party in the kitchen! |
A video about Mandy Rodstrom how she discovered a “different size” and this allowed her to meet and be friends with her stutter.
Mandy,
I am extremely inspired by your courage to share your story. It is a story I hope many people who stutter and SLPs get to hear. Cheers to being the realest, most authentic version of yourself. Today I will try and let my stutter out just a little bit more in pursuit of this shared goal.
Looking forward to seeing and chatting with you at a conference again soon.
-Randy
Hey Randy! Sorry for my delayed response! THANK YOU so much! For too long I was not living authentically and Im so glad to know you are seeing and feeling that through my story/video! I was very afraid to submit a video but, SO glad I did! It’s because of all the people I have met over this past year, that I was motivated to take the leap! Thank you for sharing in my joy! Im so honored to have inspired you to stutter openly!
Yes, looking forward to connecting again at NSA in St. Louis! Im always up for connecting before then, too!
Warm Regards,
Mandy
It is so wonderful to witness your journey of transformation. As you truly allow Mandy to take her rightful place in your life, you are going to do amazing things. Your light will help others, and 9 times out of 10, you won’t even know it.
Is there anything about your journey that scares you?
Pam
Hi Pam!! THANK YOU! Meeting and connecting with you has been a huge source of light for me! Thank you for sharing your light! It’s made my light stronger and bigger! 🙂 Ahh, great question! I think the part of my journey that scares me the most is the feeling I don’t belong in some of the spaces I have been in, mainly my workplace. It’s a “good” scary feeling I say because, perhaps another door awaits me to be opened. 🙂
Thanks again for all your efforts in ISAD! So thankful for this space!
Best,
Mandy
Hi Mandy! I didn’t remember that you had been covert for so long. That must have been so stressful and exhausting. How do the kids you work with respond?
DORI! Hi!!!
I didn’t know that it was called covert until I started trauma informed stuttering speech therapy in October of last year! A PWS AND a SLP of 18 years did not know there’s a name for how I was experiencing life as a person who stutters! It was VERY exhausting, stressful and I even say traumatic. So, you can probably guess that my students never really “knew” my stutter either. It wasn’t until last fall that I started openly stuttering and they didn’t really react, to my surprise. I did let them know ahead of time that I would be stuttering more and described what that would sound like. I did have the privilege to openly stutter with my 2 students who stutter and it was AWESOME! I was finally doing what I was telling them to do! It was a moment I will never forget!
Best,
Mandy
Wow, I can’t imagine the weight coming off your shoulders once you decided it was okay to openly stutter. Good for you Mandy – your students are so lucky to have you!!
!!
https://stamma.org/your-voice/tims-vlog-stammering-avoidance
Hi Mandy
Brilliant and moving video! I am glad we both live in’prouder’times.
I was amused to hear that you want to get rid of your tight clothing.
If you read my post you will see that I want to wear baggier trousers!
I made my first ever video too recently (see above).
Best wishes
Tim
Hi Tim!
THANK YOU for sharing in my story and joy!
YES! Im so thankful too! I LOVE that you want to wear looser and baggier clothing too! I will definitely check out your video! Thank you for sharing! Congrats on your first video! I hope it’s the first of many for you!
Cheers to you!
Best,
Mandy
So happy to see you via video and loved your message!- Bridget
Hi Bridget!
Thank you! YOU were one of those SLPs I talked about in my video! Thank you for “seeing me” and encouraging me to take that leap! Can’t wait for our FRIENDS One Day Conference!
Best,
Mandy
Mandy,
You said “I was only given a choice of not to stutter”. Don’t the speech therapists who count disfluencies provide us with any other choice except not to stutter???
Hi neidersgunar!
Thank you for watching my video! Do you mind clarifying your question?
Thanks!
Mandy
Mandy,
English is my third language, so forgive me for not speaking clearly.
Some of my clients tell me when the success of their previous therapy has been dependent on the count of disfluencies (and often nothing else) they felt that their only choice to be successful is was to decrease the number of disfluencies they had. Instead of them being able to define what they wanted out of therapy and exercising their choice of not defining their individualistic goals
(remember one size does not fit all) they were implicitly told DO NOT STUTTER.
That is how they understood it and that is how I understand it.
When the clients come to me they often decide that their therapy goals may be reduction of guilt, shame, avoidances, finding a spouse, getting a better job, and all of this regardless of whether they stutter or not.
So I was asking, somewhat facetiously, that I see no difference in the type of therapy you got and the type of therapy that is available now.
No problem at all! I just wanted to make sure I understood your question correctly.
You are correct in that my therapeutic experience as a child into my early adulthood NEVER provided with any other choice but, to hide my stutter and let that guilt, shame, avoidance, inadequacy, etc grow and constantly simmer beneath the surface. As for the therapy I have received over the past year, it most certainly has allowed me to meet my stutter, open stutter, shift my mindset and feelings, to ones of empowerment, confidence, peace, acceptance and showing up in places where I never did before.
Best,
Mandy
Mandy, I have loved watching your healing journey and am so proud you have said goodbye to Amanda and are letting us see the “whole, worthy, and confident” Mandy!
HI Ana Paula!!
Thank you so much! Im so grateful to Bridget for bringing us together! Im so thankful to know you and that you get to know Mandy! 🙂
The Spero Ally of Stuttering program was JUST what I needed as I embarked on my healing journey! It allowed me a space to take action for the values that I had “unearthed!” It gave me the space to rise as a PROUD SLP Who Stutters!
Warm regards,
Mandy
Mandy, thank you for sharing your story! It was so inspiring to hear about your transformation! Your story will definitely be an inspiration to those who stutter and give them so much hope!!
Thank you Macey! So glad my story inspired you and I too, hope it may be a point of light for those feeling they are in the dark and want to take that first step!
Warm regards,
Mandy
Hi, Mandy! Thank you for sharing your story. I am an SLP graduate student, and it is so inspiring to hear the different emotions, stages, and journeys of people who stutter. I am not a person who stutters, but when you spoke about telling your clients that it is okay to stutter and you realized you did not believe that for yourself, that resonated with me. I am glad you are in this new “size” where you know and believe that it is okay to stutter. Your story is encouraging, and it is a great story to share with others who may be in a similar mindset with their stutter. Practice what you preach, and keep telling your story! Thanks again for sharing.
– Kinley Pepper
HI Kinley! T
hank you for checking out my video and Im glad it resonated with you as a SLP graduate student! Yes, I was so glad to finally practice what I had preached! Hopefully our experiences will inform your future practice! Thank you for listening and learning!
Best of luck to you!
Mandy
Hi Mandy,
Thanks for sharing. I loved your video and how tell your story from your heart and with authenticity. Thanks for sharing your wisdom, as people who stutter are the experts in the stuttering experience. I am a therapist, and I always grow a little bit more after I listen to stories, because they are even more powerful than lectures. Thanks a lot.
-Cynthia
Hi Cynthia!
Thank you for watching and for sharing your kind words!! Im so thankful to finally be living my authentic, open stuttering self! I TOTALLY agree with you about the personal testimonies/expertise from people who stutter! Keep seeking/listening to our stories! Thank you for your allyship!
Best,
Mandy
Hi Mandy! This is so amazing, thank you for putting your story and your voice out there. Big, big hugs from your friend in New Hampshire! –Debbie Bennett 🙂
Oops! I accidentally replied in the wrong comment box! My apologies!
Hi Debbie!
Thank you so much, my friend!! It’s been a long time coming! So thankful to finally tell my story!
So grateful that our paths crossed! Appreciate your allyship!
Best,
Mandy
Hi Mandy!
My name is Sydney and I am an SLP graduate student. I live in Ohio, too! Just further north 🙂
Thank you for taking the time to share your journey and your experiences. I took a counseling course over the summer, and one of the things we focused on was just how hard it is to make a change. Sometimes it can be easier to “talk the talk” but not “walk the walk”. I think it’s so empowering that you are now able to believe the things you were telling your clients. Kudos to you for making such a big change in your mindset–you are inspiring many!
Sydney
Hi Sydney! Fellow Ohioan! Awesome!
Congrats on being a SLP graduate student and checking out ISAD!
Thanks for listening to my story and sharing your kind words! Stages of Change are so important to be aware of when working with any client! It is a call to honor our client where they are at and be aware of the barriers that may be preventing them from looking beyond where they are! That counseling class will definitely come in handy!
Yes, it most definitely feels much better to practice what I preach! I think this also applies to SLPs who don’t stutter. If we are asking our clients to step into their more authentic selves, perhaps we can ask ourselves too, “Am I living my most authentic self?””What am I avoiding?” and, “Do I want to work towards being more authentic?”
Best of luck to you!!
Warm regards,
Mandy
Hi Debbie!
Thank you so much, my friend!! It’s been a long time coming! So thankful to finally tell my story!
So grateful that our paths crossed! Appreciate your allyship!
Best,
Mandy
Hi Mandy,
Your story is truly inspiring! I am an SLP graduate student, I really admire your bravery, in embracing your stutter and becoming a role model for others. Your personal and professional journey clearly shows that stuttering shouldn’t hold anyone back from pursuing their dreams. It’s incredibly heartwarming to see how passionate you are about connecting with the stuttering community. By being open about your experiences with stuttering you’re fostering understanding and acceptance. I have no doubt that your firsthand knowledge will make you an exceptional specialist who can truly empathize with clients who stutter. Wishing you all the best as you continue to advocate for those facing challenges and inspire others along the way! The stuttering community is truly fortunate to have someone, like you.
Hello mpourmo!
Thank you so much for listening to my story and for your kind and thoughtful words! Im so glad my story resonates with you as you embark on your journey to become a SLP! You are part of the next generation of SLPs who will be better informed! Spread the word!
Best of luck to you!
Warm regards,
Mandy
Hi Mandy!
That was a great story, thanks so much for your willingness to share. Im curious about your experience as an SLP who stutters. What some common reactions your students have when you stutter during a therapy session?
Hi Stteph!
Thank you so much for listening to my story! I LOVE your question! I had some very awesome open stutters ALL day the other day this week and as I was stuttering, I had the thought, “Be ready for them to look at your mouth or for them to ask “Why did you talk like that?” To my surprise, none of my students said anything or looked intently at my mouth! It was a really cool moment to have that neutral response from my students! Im still retraining my brain and body to stay calm and curious and not jump to anticipating those negative reactions.
Thanks again for your kind words and great question!!
Best,
Mandy
Hi Mandy! Thank you for sharing your story, I learned so much from hearing your personal witness. I am an SLP grad student at a school in Ohio and I am currently in a Stuttering class, which has been so informative. I am curious to know, what is your best piece of advice for a new SLP, specifically working with clients who stutter?
Hello sstiebe and fellow Ohioan!
Thank you for sharing in my personal testimony! I’m so glad your Stuttering course has been informative!Keep listening to children/people who stutter! They are EXPERT! Start making connections with stuttering communities such as FRIENDS, NSA and SAY.
I haven’t been able to formulate a succinct piece of advice so, I hope you don’t mind the long response. 🙂
The advice I would give you is to first and foremost, honor your students who stutter(and their parents)by meeting them where they are and getting to know them as a human first. Find out if they are opting in or opting out of the life they want. Find out what their unfulfilled potential is, what are their hopes and dreams and what they feel is keeping them from “showing up.” Connect your students and families with other children who stutter perhaps through FRIENDS, NSA and SAY. Help them learn about what their body/nervous system does before, during and, after a moment of stuttering. Give them the language they need to learn to live the life they want and become friends with their stutter. At the heart of it all is ensuring you are holding space to access and nurture your students ability to be authentic, confident, resilient and assertive.
You are part of the next generation of SLPs who will be better informed! Keep learning and spread the word!
Best of luck to you!
-Mandy
Hi Mandy!
Thank you for sharing your story! I was quickly drawn to your video and how you redefined “one size fits all” into a “different size” after the theme was announced as “One size does not fit all” for this year’s International Stuttering Awareness Day theme. I felt as though your message was extremely impactful as you shared personal stories regarding chasing fluency growing up and feeling as though you had to be fluent in order to be a “good SLP.” I feel as though you are a wonderful SLP because you are able to connect with your students on a level that is more personal and understanding, as you have lived through similar experiences. I am eager for all that is to come in your future and how you can continue to grow as a speech pathologist now that you have a whole new outlook on your stutter.
I am currently an SLP graduate student and was wondering what advice you would give an aspiring SLP who is working with a student who stutters? Throughout our stuttering course, I have gained a lot of insightful information regarding mindfulness, counseling, and learning to walk in the shoes of our clients. However, what is something that you wish your SLP growing up would have told you?
Thanks!
Alayna
Hi Alayna!
Thank you for checking out my video and for your kind words! Love your questions too! So glad to hear you are having such a comprehensive learning experience in your current Stuttering course! The child who stutters/the person who stutters are EXPERT. Keep listening to their stories!
The advice I would give you is to first and foremost, honor your students who stutter(and their parents)by meeting them where they are and getting to know them as a human first. Find out if they are opting in or opting out of the life they want. Find out what their unfulfilled potential is, what are their hopes and dreams and what they feel is keeping them from “showing up.” Connect your students and families with other children who stutter perhaps through FRIENDS, NSA and SAY. Help them learn about what their body/nervous system does before, during and, after a moment of stuttering. Give them the language they need to learn to live the life they want and become friends with their stutter. At the heart of it all is ensuring you are holding space to access and nurture your students ability to be authentic, confident, resilient and assertive.
I SO very much wish I had a SLP who told me stuttering is ok and that my stuttering was my natural speech pattern. I wish my SLP would have asked me what my biggest hopes and dreams were and that I already possessed all that I needed to achieve those dreams! I wish my SLP would have told me I could do anything I wanted to do all the while stuttering away! I wish my SLP would have helped me come up with an empowering self-disclosure statement. I wish my SLP would have helped me learn to stutter openly. The list could go on!
You are part of the next generation of SLPs who will be better informed! Keep learning and spread the word!
Best of luck to you!
Warm regards,
Mandy
Hi Mandy,
I thought it was super interesting to hear what stuttering is like for a person who is also a speech-language pathologist. As a graduate student in this field this video has helped me learn that stuttering is not one size fits all. It is interesting that this is called covert stuttering as we are learning about all the different kinds of covert behaviors in our fluency class right now. This video has also helped me gain a little bit of a perspective on the emotional toll that this takes. It seems like so much for an adult to handle let alone a child. I’m glad that you became a speech-language pathologist and are helping other kids not feel ashamed! All the kiddos are lucky to have such a inspirational person in their lives!
-Jordan
Hi JordanZee! Thank you so much for your kind words! Im so glad you were connected to ISAD,my testimony AND are learning about covert stuttering! As you heard in my video, I NEVER knew my experience with stuttering/living with stuttering was covert until I was 41 years old! You’re ahead of the game and I’m so excited for your potential clients that you will be much better informed and provide the care and support your clients deserve!
Keep learning and spread the word!
Best,
Mandy
Hello Mandy,
Wow, I admire how you put yourself out there and shared your story. I appreciate the feedback you gave on the techniques, which is what my question is going to be about.
Since you are an SLP, if a student/client approaches you and is seeking fluency treatment–what do you tell them? The Oases battery is a good tool to gather data about the client’s views on stuttering (and themselves), but what if they still want therapy after that? Are there any techniques that you have found to be helpful to individuals who stutter?
Hi Happy! Thank you so much for your kind words and for checking out my personal testimony! I want to make sure I understand your question correctly. Are you asking what do I do if my student/client comes to me wanting to focus on fluency enhancing vs. acceptance, avoidance reduction, etc?
I totally agree with you that the OASES is a great evaluation tool!
Hi Mandy! Thank you so much for sharing your story! I am currently in graduate school for speech therapy and I have found it extremely helpful to be able to hear different people’s stories and experiences with stuttering.
My question is as speech therapists, would you say the emotional/feelings side that comes with stuttering would be more important to address in therapy rather than the stutter itself?
Thanks!
– Mollie
Hi Mollie! Thank you for watching my personal testimony! Im so glad your professor led you to ISAD and you are learning about stuttering through the experts…people who stutter! 🙂
First and foremost, I believe each client is their own individual and therapy should be individually based. Focusing solely on the stutter would not align with the ABCs of stuttering. It is critical to consider the affective, behavioral and cognitive components of stuttering as it relates to our clients.
Best of luck to you! Keep learning and spread the word!
-Mandy
Hi Mandy! As a graduate student preparing to be an SLP, what is advice you would give to future SLP’s who may find themself working with a person who stutters that has had negative experiences in the past with stuttering therapy? Thank you!
-Danielle
Hi Danielle! Great question!
It is so critical to meet and honor where your clients are at. If you know your client had a previous negative experience with stuttering therapy, I would want to foster a safe space to discuss the client’s previous experience and find out specifically what the negative parts of therapy were. Through those conversations, you could gather VERY important and critical information that could guide and inform your current therapeutic practices.
Hope this helps!
Best of luck to you!
-Mandy
Hi Mandy! I appreciate you sharing your story, the kids you treat are so lucky to have an inspirational person in their lives. I am in my second year of graduate school to become an SLP. I am also taking a fluency course right now. My question is, what advice would you give to a new SLP working with kids who stutter? Or something you wish someone would have told you when you first began your work treating kids who stutter?
Thank you!
-Lauren
Hi Lauren! Happy 2nd Year of SLP Grad School! Thank you so much for listening to my personal testimony and for your kind words!
Great question!
The advice I would give you is to first and foremost, honor your students who stutter(and their parents)by meeting them where they are and getting to know them as a human first. Find out if they are opting in or opting out of the life they want. Find out what their unfulfilled potential is, what are their hopes and dreams and what they feel is keeping them from “showing up.” Connect your students and families with other children who stutter perhaps through FRIENDS, NSA and SAY. Help them learn about what their body/nervous system does before, during and, after a moment of stuttering. Give them the language they need to learn to live the life they want and become friends with their stutter. At the heart of it all is ensuring you are holding space to access and nurture your students ability to be authentic, confident, resilient and assertive.
You are part of the next generation of SLPs who are better informed! Keep learning and spread the word!
Best of luck to you!
Warm regards,
Mandy
Hi Mandy!
I am an SLP graduate student currently learning about stuttering. We have learned about fluency shaping approaches and why pursuing a more inclusive, holistic, and accepting treatment approach is more beneficial for our clients. We’ve learned a lot about mindfulness and its role in therapy as well. I appreciate you sharing your story and your change of perspective. It has opened my eyes to how an acceptance based model for therapy can be so important!
Em
Hi Em! Thanks for checking out my personal testimony! I am so glad to hear you are learning about a more inclusive, holistic and accepting therapeutic approach to stuttering! I also am glad my story is able to inform your learning journey as well!
Best of luck to you!
-Mandy
Hi Em! Thank you for listening to my testimony and for your kind words! I am so glad to hear you are receiving such a comprehensive learning experience in your Stuttering course/practicum! You are now part of the change and I wish you the best as you continue your journey to becoming a SLP!
Best,
Mandy
Hi Mandy! Thank you so much for sharing your story on stuttering. It is truly inspiring to see you live out the dreams you have always had for yourself, regardless of your stutter. I am a graduate student in a fluency disorders class currently and it’s been so interesting learning about stuttering more in-depth and how stuttering can not only affect people’s communication skills but their overall mental and emotional health. Since the beginning of my fluency disorders course, I have learned so much about the importance of working with PWS. It takes a lot of work and compassion and it’s a wonderful experience to be apart of. I am sure you’re changing the lives of many everyday as a Speech-language pathologist. Thanks again for sharing!
Hi Allieesuth!
Thank you for checking out my video/personal testimony! A year ago, I never would have thought to share my story or imagine how impactful my story could be! Im so glad to hear your Stuttering professor is providing a comprehensive and holistic learning experience for you and your classmates! Working with PWS is such a gift and you’re absolutely right, it is a wonderful experience to be a part of!
Best of luck to you as you continue your journey to become a SLP!
Warm regards,
Mandy
Hi Mandy! Thank you for sharing your story. I love how you remind your students that it’s okay to stutter. Providing them with that positivity and encouragement to be confident in whomever they are is so important. I’m so happy that you were able to find your “true size” through working with your students and others. Thank you again for sharing!
Hi Maryalyce!
THANK YOU for witnessing my personal testimony! Learning from my students has been such a gift not only professionally but, personally for sure! One of the many gifts of being a SLP! Thank you for sharing in my happiness and for your kind words!
Best,
Mandy
Hi Mandy! I appreciate you sharing your remarkable story! As a future speech-language pathologist, I was deeply moved by the impact of your message when you shared your personal stories about your journey while growing up and the pressure you felt to be fluent. It’s incredible that you became an SLP yourself! Your ability to connect with your students on a personal and empathetic level, drawing from your own experiences, truly makes you an exceptional SLP, I’m sure! Well done on your incredible change in perspective; you’re serving as an inspiration to many! Thanks again for sharing!
~Alyson
Hi Alysonholt!
Congrats on your journey to become a SLP! Im so grateful for your kind words and for checking out my personal testimony! I never would have thought a year ago, I had a story to share, or that my story would be so impactful to future SLPs, PWS and, our Allies! It took a group of exceptional SLPs to help facilitate that change of perspective AND journey to meet my authentic Self! So powerful! Without their support, I would still be chasing fluency and not living my best life!
Best of luck to you!
Warm regards,
Mandy