Question for a Professional
Hello, I was wondering how a professional builds a comfortable environment and relationship with a client who stutters? Moreover, what resources do you provide them with to allow them to be vulnerable with you? Thank you for any responses, Braelynn.
Braelynn,
HI! Thank you for asking questions and signing your name so we can address you properly. You ask such a great question!
We create a “comfortable environment and relationship with a client who stutters” by modeling everything we are asking a client to do. We go first. No matter what we ask, we show and not just tell. This lets the client see what we are asking from the outside.
As professionals we model being vulnerable. If we are asking a client to share, we can share too. Learning is a conversations, and in a conversation there is back and forth, give and take. If you give parts of yourself, and step outside of your comfort zones (with humor, sharing, and more) a client will most often follow that lead.
When doing therapy I try to lead or give clients education about what stuttering is, and what are some myths about it. I give them resources to read (if they wish too) and websites to connect with other PWS (if they wish too). We follow the client. WE let them drive the bus. We may have the map, and we maybe giving directions, by they decide how they want to proceed and move.
Accepting a client starts with us letting them be who they are (as a whole person) and us trying our best not to judge that whole person. Acceptance is a process, not a destination, so practicing this still, talking about it openly with clients, and discussing acceptance of self is helping to create a bond rooted in the foundations of being a human being.
Does that help?
Be you. Be well!
With compassion and kindness,
Scott