Therapy advice
Hello, My name is Alexis and I am in my second year of graduate school to become a Speech Language Pathologist. I have also worked and currently work full time as a speech pathologist assistant. I have enjoyed my time with my fluency students and have learned so much over the past 2 years and in my fluency class i am in currently. I really want to be an advocate for my students and be a great listener because I have learned some of my students dont ever get that. I would love to hear from any of your personal experiences what is something that your speech therapist did that really benefited you or even really did not benefit you and you wished they wouldn’t have done? Also outside of speech therapy is there anything you would recommended for me to have my clients try to do? Thank you and I am excited to hear your feedback.
Hi Alexis!
Thank you for your message.
Being a good listener is a solid tool to have, so keep that up. But I also say that an SLP’s greatest tool is empathy. If you have that, you’re set.
In my experience, this allowed me to really open up and enjoy therapy more, to let me talk about what was going on outside of speech therapy, whether it was good or unpleasant.
I know that sounds like a simple approach but the simplest things are the most effective many times.
As for your clients outside of speech therapy, challenge them to go to guest services at a mall and ask for directions to a store or asking where the ketchup is, for example, to a grocery store employee. You can also challenge them to speak on the phone and ask a store for the operating hours (although that is easier to find these days thanks to Google). It’s a good exercise nonetheless, though.
Above all, let your clients know that you are an outlet to talk about what’s bothering them or even what’s bringing them joy. I say that as I’ve met kids who stutter who, unfortunately, don’t get much support from family or friends. This can be debilitating, so just be sure to be there for them as best as you can.
Hi Alexis
When I was young SLPs didn’t really know how to treat stuttering. I was told to say the days of the week in one breath. (I played the saxophone, so air wasn’t the issue.) I’ve had SLPs telling me to breath properly. (Again breathing.) I’ve had an SLP who became my psychologist, but when I told her my story, she threw it back in my face. All of this made me feel less, incapable, a failure. Today most SLPs understand that fluency is not the one and only goal, but for a client to say what s/he wants to say, the way s/he feels comfortable with. Whether that’s with some help to get out of a block, to gain more self-esteem, to expend comfort zones or even to help explain stuttering to others or to find the answers to raise awareness. A good SLP works together with the client, listens, asks questions, and together find a way to set up baby step goals, while stepping out of the box and see what this very client wants and needs. S/he is maybe asking for something that’s not in your textbook, and you may have a suggestion that your client never heard of. So work together. As you have the tools, but we have the experience. 😉
There are some things I wish SLPs would do.
1. Listen and ask questions. Don’t just listen to the stuttered syllables, but listen to the story. The background. The goals. The culture, religion, anything that makes the person the way s/he is. As stuttering is so much more than what comes out of the mouth. Also listen to the parents and maybe even a friend, a partner. If a PWS doesn’t feel heard or safe, s/he will not give you the information you need.
2. Think out of the book, or box. One size does NOT fit all. One client (or the parent) might want to be fluent. Tell them fluency might not be for all. That climbing the Mount Everest is too hard for most people. So to set up reachable goals. Maybe tools to get out of a block. Maybe working on acceptance and self-worth. Maybe by giving them the knowledge to learn more about stuttering and explain to others. Maybe by suggesting something else but speech therapy. F ex presentation techniques, yoga, a choir. Or all of the above!
By listening, asking questions and providing a smörgåsbord of things to try, TOGETHER you might find something that fits that very client to reach acchievable goals.
As we’re all different, want and need different approaches. Some might want total fluency. If so, make sure they understand that this might not be an obtainable goal, but that there are many steps in between. Some might want help to accept and live with stuttering. Some might simply want some techniques to get out of a block. Some might want to know more about stuttering. Some might want help to get family members to understand. And therapy can be a full smörgåsbord with different things to try, of which some are maybe completely different than speech therapy. F ex yoga, singing, art. Also bring your clients to support groups, camps and online places where PWS meet. This has been life changing for me.
Keep them talking
Anita
Hi Alexis
Thank you for wanting to be an ally. We cannot have too many. 🙂
As stuttering was “wrong” in our family, I wasn’t sent to therapy until I was in my teens. The first two abused me, one physically, the second one mentally. After that I’ve seen a few others, who only focused on my breathing and stuttered syllables, and told me I was doing it wrong as I didn’t get fluent. Which is why I am so happy times have changed and I have so many SLPs even as my personal friends! As today more and more SLPs listen, ask questions and step outside the box and the book. As we’re all different, want and need different approaches. Some might want total fluency. If so, make sure they understand that this might not be an obtainable goal, but that there are many steps in between. Some might want help to accept and live with stuttering. Some might simply want some techniques to get out of a block. Some might want to know more about stuttering. Some might want help to get family members to understand. And therapy can be a full smörgåsbord with different things to try, of which some are maybe completely different than speech therapy. F ex yoga, singing, art. Also bring your clients to support groups, camps and online places where PWS meet. This has been life changing for me.
Ask questions. Listen. Don’t start focusing on the stutter, but on the person behind the stutter. Who is s/he. What does s/he want, not only from therapy, but also from life. How are relationships with family, friends, school etc. Tell him/her that you’re not judging, not counting syllables, not reaching for fluency (which might feel like forcing her to climb the mount Everest in a wheelchair) just finding out where s/he is, and where s/he wants to be. So yes, one-on-one might fit. Or to bring a friend. Or match her with one peer (or even an adult who stutters) who you know is understanding.
Show the way to meet others who stutter, like camps, meetings, chat groups (check out Penny’s paper on playing video games with other kids who stutter). But also group therapy to proof they are not alone and can support each other. Let him/meet other adults who stutter. Bring a friend into the therapy room and let them do homework together. But… add fun!! When it’s fun, it’s more likely to continue, and to open up. And when giving assignments, do them yourself too. Don’t give assignments you’re not willing to do. Also offer help to speak to the classroom, you or your client, or maybe someone from a local support group. To talk to the class and/or the teachers (but decide that together).
I recently was at a weekend where a group of PWS who stutter practice public speaking together. With the funniest assignments, that made us ROFL! I had a social studies teacher in school who literally jumped on the table to make a point. Don’t just be the therapist. Be the friend. 🙂
Keep them talking
Anita