Professionals Advice
Hi my name is Julia Reeves and I am a SLP grad student at Idaho State University. I am currently taking a fluency course and working with kids who stutter at my placement. As someone new in this particular area and field, what advice would you give a beginning clinician who is working with PWS?
Hi Julie,
You are lucky to be at such a strong program with knowledgeable, caring, progressive faculty! I would say that the most important thing to think about at this point in your career is the need to become a life long learner. You will gain great knowledge and skill at the university level. And, this is just the beginning of your learning path. Learn from each new client you see. Learn from other therapists, who work with children and adults who stutter. Continue to read current research about stuttering. The field has made great changes since I was in graduate school (before your parents were born:) and will continue to grow as your career takes off.
take care,
Rita
Hey Julia!
I hope you’re finding your work enjoyable as well as gratifying.
I’m sure you’ll get a chance to explore the therapy techniques you’ve learnt as part of your course, and make informed decisions about what works best with which child, as you go along. What’s even more important at the outset, however, is to want to help in whatever way possible, and to convey this sentiment to the PWS. The good news is that with children, conveying this information is the easiest. Children, in my experience, are very tuned in subconsciously to someone who means well, and who genuinely intends to help. Once the child knows that you’re there for them , the subsequent steps become so much more easy for the both of you!
We’ve had a lot of interesting discussions this time about working with children who stutter. So if you have any other questions on this topic, do give those a read!
Pallavi