Question for PWS
My name is Catherine, and I am currently an undergraduate student. What are some of the qualities that you would look for in a good therapist? Do you have any specific examples of when these qualities really showed and made an impact?
Personally, I think what makes a good speech therapist is when they meet their client where they are.
For example, if a client comes into a therapy session and all they want to do is learn how to control their stutter, then in meeting their client halfway, the speech therapist should with them on whatever tools and techniques they need to do so.
Or if a client comes into a therapy session and they just want to work on how they feel about their stutter and learn to accept it, the speech therapist should put their time into doing this.
I strongly believe in person lead therapy, rather than the therapist feeling like they know everything and what their client needs.
I totally agree with Bevin. Listening is the key. As stuttering is so much more than what comes out of our mouths, you need to get the whole picture. Family, culture, past, school, work, relationships, friends, environment etc etc. To listen and ask questions will help you see the whole picture. And for a client to tell you everything, they need you to listen. As you have the technical facts, but the client is the expert on his/her stuttering. So together you can see what the needs are and you can help to offer ways to get there.
Give different options and think out of the box. As for some it’s smoother speech, for others it could be CBT/NLP, the third might need yoga/ mindfulness or even singing, swimming and public speaking classes, the fourth might simply need to understand stuttering and/or to help to make other people understand.
And going to events for PWS and join chats, FB groups etc, is a great way to feel you’re not alone, and a place where you can learn what it’s like to live with a stutter, and to be able to ask your questions and share your experiences. We’d love to have both your and your client there and be our ally, and learn from each other. Also bring others into the therapy room. Maybe a friend can help your client to do exercises together, so that it’s more fun. And maybe grandmom needs your help to stop nagging about taking a deep breath.
It might not be the stutter that needs to be fixed, but understanding it, handling it, handle with the people who don’t get it, and to refocus on who you are and what your skills and dreams are. Now don’t worry. You are a speech therapist and hopefully an ally, but you can’t do it all. So have a smorgasbord with other people and places at hand. Camps and local chapters, social media groups and cool people who stutter, a CBT/ACT/NLP/Mindfulness specialist, the nearest singing and meditation course, etc. The better you listen, the more pieces of the puzzle you can add by working together.
In my keynote speech for the ISA World Congress http://stutteringiscool.com/podcast/therapy-smorgasbord/ I spoke about stuttering treatment being a smorgasbord. Do have a listen.
Keep them talking
Anita