positive impact
I have learned so much through this conference and am hoping to continually become more aware and helpful to PWS. As a future SLP, I was hoping to hear what an SLP has taught you or done that has made a positive impact in your journey? I know that every case is different, but I was hoping to know what is most helpful from your perspective.
Yes
My last two SLPs allowed me to accept myself as a stutterer but also as I am.
It was a 5 years journey, but it changed my life. I learned that the most important things are self-acceptance and self-love
They are like my second mothers
If you would like to help chronic adolescent and adult stuttering you will need to specialise in that area, I believe. At the end of the day. I benefited from doing an intensive course and most SLPs are not set up to do that. Don’t take on a client unless you believe you have the skills to help him/her. That will require a lot more knowledge than you will learn at university unfortunately. You could learn a lot from talking to people who stutter so being involved here is a good start. There is a lot about stuttering on the internet to learn from including my Stuttering Jack blog so have a look there and maybe attend a national stuttering support group conference in your country if you are serious about becoming a specialist in stuttering treatment.
I would tell my younger self (and have told children and young adults who stutter during 25 years of stutter camps) to love and accept myself no matter what, as I have to live with myself. Trying to be as (I think) others want me to is to loose myself. Stuttering is not my fault, so there should be no shame. And as there is no shame, I shouldn’t have to be forced to be hide or “cure” it. That’s up to me to decide. I’d tell my younger self to make sure what I say is worth repeating. I’d say turn your stutter into your trademark and let people remember you for being a superhero, doing what’s hard, but doing it anyway, every day, all day. That takes guts and determination. And to go for my dreams, no matter what, no matter what others say. As a determined person will get there anyway. And to make sure my personality and knowledge are good enough. Not the best, as who wants to be with someone who’s always the best in everything? If any, to be me best self, without comparing myself to others. if YOU want to work on your speech, find a clinician that fits you, as it takes someone you truts to make therapy work. Be honest and tell her/him what you want help with, as you might have different opinions about that. And if you don’t match, keep looking, as there will be that clinician who is your perfect match with whom you’ll get great results. And don’t let people tell you to go for that quick fix, as if it sounds too good to be true, it is. But most of all, to not feel alone. Find others who stutter. Go to camps and conferences. Chat online and make new friends from all over the world.
Stay safe and keep them talking
Anita
Hello there,
Thanks for the interesting question.
I have a friend SLP who is like a mother to me. We have become very close since I decided to seek help for my stammer. She did an initial assessment on my speech the first time we met and gave me a lot of resources to read; these resources have helped change my mindset about stammering.
Since our relationship is like a mother-son relationship, you’ll expect she would be interested in my overall quality of life. She encouraged me to accept myself as a PWS and strive to be an excellent communicator. She guided me on how to lead media awareness campaigns.She’s been a backbone to my success today all through “informal” therapy. In summary, what I’m trying to put across is that she genuinely became interested in my speech and life in general.
Many SLPs will make greater impact in the life of the PWS when they develop a good relationship with them.
Elias.