- 10 years’ clinical experience working with adults who stammer, including 6 years working with adults at The Michael Palin Centre, an internationally recognised centre of excellence for stammering based in London
- A recognition that everybody who stammers is an individual for whom the experience of stammering is different
- A broad and extensive skill set to meet expectations for therapy, whether your focus is the outward aspects of stammering or whether you prefer to address the emotional and behavioural impact of stammering
- An effective working relationship, which is key for building trust
- Extensive experience with a range of psychological approaches including Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Solution Focused Brief Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Mindfulness, for stammering therapy
Adults
Stammering in adults can occur for a number of reasons. It may be that you have stammered since you were a child. Sometimes stammering can start in adulthood following physical or emotional trauma such as a head injury or stroke. As an adult, stammering can lead to a range of emotional and behavioural responses including avoidance, unhelpful coping behaviours, and feelings of distress and anxiety. Ultimately, stammering can stop you from doing what you want to do in life and it can be difficult to be open and to address your negative experiences.
For some people, stammering is not a barrier to their communication. The Stammering Pride movement embraces the idea that everyone is different and that stammering is just another viable way of communicating. This puts more emphasis on the role of the listener, and of society, to accept stammering as part of a wider picture of neurodiversity and difference.
Whatever your perspective, it is not always easy to find the right help and guidance. Making a change, whether being more open, seeking therapy, or managing the thoughts and feelings that occur, can be a helpful and sometimes difficult step.
A downloadable leaflet with more information about assessment and therapy is available here.
- Increased knowledge about stammering can help people to feel less worried and less anxious
- The assessment includes a detailed case history, including questions about stammering and its impact, and how it has changed over time. It involves the completion of written forms, so that all the relevant factors can be identified
- The assessment ends with a ‘formulation’, a description of the causes of stammering, the specific factors relevant for your speech, and what therapy would need to include
- Detailed recommendations and advice are provided, along with a clinical report
- The assessment is practical and recognises how important it is for you to leave the assessment with an understanding of stammering, as well as knowing what you can do and why you are doing it, and to feel able to try things out straight away
- Gives an increased understanding of stammering, its causes, and its impact, which combine to help you to feel more in charge
- Therapy sessions build communication confidence and explore and address worry, anxiety, and stress around speaking situations
- Therapy includes options for targeted support with specific situations such as job interviews, work presentations, and introducing yourself
- Being more open about stammering, including discussing ways of letting others know what they can, should, and shouldn’t do to help
- Joint goal setting with specific targets, so that therapy addresses what you want it to address and moves at a pace which is comfortable
Links of interest:
STAMMA (UK charity for stammering):
The Stuttering Foundation of America:
StutterTalk podcasts:
