STAMMER SPECIALIST

Kevin Fower | MRes., PGDip., BA (Hons).

Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

Most of my career so far (14 years) was spent at the Michael Palin Centre for Stammering, an internationally recognised centre of excellence. As well as working with families on an individual basis I was also lead therapist for children’s and young people’s intensive group therapy courses. I was part of the clinical team which offered a national consultation service; this tertiary service offered in-depth assessment, advice and guidance to families referred to the Centre by local NHS specialists seeking expert support.

 

In addition to clinical work, I was involved in national and international teaching programmes and I was also in the Centre’s research team. I have presented at a number of international locations including in Japan, Belgium, and Spain.

 

I have a master’s degree in applied research from University College London. I currently have an honorary role in the Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, where I support with interviews and selection for the MSc course in Speech and Language Therapy and with the marking of clinical examinations. Until July 2022 I was Chair of the National Stammering Clinical Excellence Network, a committee which supports NHS and independent therapists with their Continued Professional Development by organising study days across the UK and online.

 

My full CV can be found here.

11 YEARS' EXPERIENCE

11 years’ experience at the Michael Palin Centre, an internationally recognised centre of excellence based in London

PROFESSIONALISM

Further learning in a range of psychological approaches including Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Mindfulness

ONLINE WORKING

Online working for over 9 years, an effective way of working including when you are unable to find a specialist in your local area

SPECIALIST LEVEL

Experience working as a specialist at the national level, giving clinical support and guidance to fluency specialists from NHS Trusts across the country

HIGH SKILLS

An accomplished skill set for working with children, young people, and adults who stammer and their families

RELIABILITY

Extensive specialist training and experience with a range of therapy approaches including Palin-Parent Child Interaction therapy

WHAT I OFFER

Therapy approaches

I use a variety of therapy programmes including Palin Parent-Child Interaction Therapy and the Camperdown Programme. I also draw on a range of psychological approaches including Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Solution Focused Brief Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Mindfulness. I have extensive specialist training and experience including further learning in child and adolescent mental health and CBT at the Oxford Cognitive Therapy Centre.

 

This experience underpins the work I do, during assessment, when setting goals for therapy, and during therapy sessions. Everyone who stammers is different and for this reason I use a person-centred approach to ensure all elements of stammering, and its impact, are considered.

WHO I WORK WITH

Preschool-aged children to adults

I work with people of all ages who stammer, from preschool-aged children to adults, both individually and in groups. I also have extensive experience of working with people who stammer with additional diagnoses including learning difficulty, autism, dyspraxia, Down’s Syndrome, and ADHD. I also work with people who clutter.

 

Stammering is different for everyone and therapy is a process. For some people it involves support with increasing their understanding of stammering, exploring increased openness about it, and discussing how to tell people what they can do to help. For others it is desensitisation to moments of stammering and addressing the emotions and thoughts that come up during certain speaking situations. For parents, therapy is about knowing what to do and say to their child as well as addressing any concerns. In my experience, building an effective therapy relationship is key.

BRIEF CV NOTES

Education

I have specialised in stammering for 14 years, working as a national resource in the core areas of clinical work, teaching and training, and research. Central to this is the key skill of building an effective therapy relationship, which supports change. I have established The Stammer Specialist Ltd. to bring these skills into the private sector, providing quality therapy to children, young people, and adults who stammer outside of the
NHS.

2006

PGDip in Speech & Language Therapy, City University, London, UK

Pass with merit
Brain and behaviour, phonetics, phonology, voice, language acquisition, acquired language disorders
2016

Research Master’s in Applied Research in Human Communication Disorders, University College London, UK

Pass with distinction
Quantitative and qualitative methodology, statistics, qualitative psychology, research evidence and design, 8000 word written thesis

If you would like to book an assessment, click here...

If you would like to know more about what I offer, including assessment and therapy, then please send an email to info@stammerspecialist.com or give me a call on: 07966 599984

CONTACT ME