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Derek Daniels, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, Associate Professor at Wayne State University, joins host Sara MacIntyre, M.A., CCC-SLP to discuss the beauty and power of creating space for storytelling within the therapeutic process. Derek discusses how critical it is to allow clients to take the lead in telling their stories and sharing what is meaningful to them, and how to clinically leave space and facilitate this process most effectively. Further, Derek discusses what 'affirming' clients in the therapeutic process looks like, how important this was for him within his own journey as well as within his clinical experience, and how affirmation within therapy can create space for deeper reflection related to identity, intersectionality of multiple identities, and important cultural and individual considerations. Throughout the episode Derek shares example facilitative prompts and clinical examples 

Resources:

• The Impact of Stuttering on Identity Construction
• A Life of Contradictions: What I've Learned About Resilience from Living with Multiple Marginalized Identities
• Stutter with Confidence: Stuttering will NOT Steal My Joy

Bio: Derek Daniels, Ph.D., CCC-SLP is a licensed and certified speech-language pathologist who specializes in stuttering therapy. He is also an associate professor and graduate program director in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, where teaches courses on stuttering and supervises graduate student training in stuttering. Derek has presented locally, nationally, and internationally on stuttering. Derek is a person who stutters. His research focuses on psychosocial experiences of stuttering, identity, and intersectionality. He has participated in many self-help events, workshops, and clinical training programs for people who stutter. Derek is a native of Houston, TX, and currently enjoys urban life in Detroit. He is a Past President of the Michigan Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

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Tim Flynn, M.S., CCC-SLP, a school-based Speech-Language Pathologist and person who stutters, joins Sara MacIntyre, M.A., CCC-SLP to discuss the complexities, roadblocks, and importance of stuttering education and advocacy within the school setting. Tim shares ways school-based SLPs can help dispel stuttering misconceptions to teachers, faculty, staff, and parents in order to best support students who stutter within the educational setting and beyond. Further, Tim discusses the importance of developing and supporting the self-advocacy skills in the students we work with and how greater education regarding stuttering, therapy 'successes,' outcomes, and expectations can ensure everyone is on the same page. Tim shares clinical experiences and stories throughout as well! This is a must-listen for anyone working within the schools who wishes to better advocacy, educate, and support students who stutter.

Tim Flynn, M.S., CCC-SLP is a person who stutters and has worked as a speech-language pathologist within the public schools for 14 years. Tim is an active member within the stuttering self-help community. He has facilitated multiple seminars and workshops for children who stutter, families, teachers, and speech-language pathologists. Tim also has authored or coauthored articles exploring measuring and modifying attitudes toward stuttering. He has also guest lectured for multiple graduate programs' stuttering courses.

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Dr. Evan Usler joins Sara MacIntyre, M.A., CCC-SLP to discuss a recent paper in Topics in Language Disorders, "Why Stuttering Occurs: The Role of Cognitive Conflict and Control," which is linked below.  The purpose of this article is to provide theoretical explanations of the experience of stuttering through pulling from and incorporating a variety of previous explanations, findings, and clinical theories in efforts to speculate questions such as: Why is speech fluency so situationally variable? How do stuttering-like disfluencies develop? Why are stuttering-like disfluencies perceived as a loss of control? and Why do stuttering-like disfluencies take the form they do?

Article discussed today: "What Stuttering Occurs: The Role of Cognitive Conflict and Control" in Topics in Language Disorders.

For more information on the University of Delaware Stuttering Project, visit the website here.

Evan Usler, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor at the University of Delaware's Communication Sciences & Disorders Department. Evan is the Director of the Interpersonal Neurophysiology Lab where he studies the interactions between cognition, language, and speech motor control.

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Ellen Kelly, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, BCS-F joins Sara MacIntyre, M.A., CCC-SLP to discuss a listener submitted question: 

"How do you know when to “graduate” your student/ client? I know this varies greatly from person to person, but I would appreciate some insight into how that decision is made."

Sara and Ellen reflect on what contributes to this on-going, collaborative, and gradual decisions making process together with the student/ client.  Further, they discuss how beneficial taking a Solution-Focused Brief Therapy framework lens/ questioning could be in helping the collaborative process, and share clinical examples and antidotes along the way. 

More resources related to Solution-Focused Brief Therapy:

• About Solution-Focused Brief Therapy
• Solution-Focused Brief Therapy- A Taster!
• Working with Parents of Children Who Stutter and Supporting Change through SFBT
• and previous podcast episodes!

For topic suggestions/ comments/ feedback, write to Sara: [email protected]. 

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Ben Goldstein, M.A., CCC-SLP joins Sara MacIntyre, M.A., CCC-SLP to discuss Avoidance Reduction Therapy (ARTS®) as it can be applied to younger individuals who stutter. Ben begins by sharing a bit about his personal journey and experiences as a person who stutters, and specifically his experiences with ARTS® as a client himself and then now as a clinician working in the public schools as well as for Sisskin Stuttering Center. Ben proceeds to give listeners a thorough history and overview of the 4 stages of ARTS® therapy, interweaving rationale and clinical examples throughout. During the later portion of the episode, Ben acknowledges the hesitations clinicians new to ARTS® may have in considering the approach with younger people who stutter; however, through Ben's examples, clinical antidotes, and recommendations, he leaves listeners feeling assured regarding its applicability and appropriateness for younger individuals and adults alike. This may be one of our favorite episodes, we hope you enjoy and another thank you to Ben Goldstein for sharing his wisdom with us!

Article in Seminars referenced in episode by Ben Goldstein and Vivian Sisskin: https://www.thieme-connect.com/products/ejournals/abstract/10.1055/s-0042-1742695

For further learning:
Overview of ARTS® by Vivian Sisskin and Mark Baer
Stuttering Foundation Course: Avoidance Reduction Therapy in a Group Setting

For episode suggestions, comments, and questions, please reach out to Sara: [email protected].

Ben Goldstein, M.A., CCC-SLP: is a speech-language pathologist for Prince George’s County Public Schools in Maryland and the Sisskin Stuttering Center in the Washington D.C. area. He has presented on Avoidance Reduction Therapy for Stuttering (ARTS®) at national conferences, speech pathology graduate school programs, and to school-based speech pathologists in the Mid-Atlantic region. He is passionate about working with children and adults who stutter and supporting them to become the confident, spontaneous, and effective communicators they can be. In his free time, Ben enjoys playing guitar, camping, and watching his favorite football team — the Baltimore Ravens.

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Jack Rodriguez, a person who stutters, and a senior in Texas State's undergraduate Communication Sciences and Disorders program joins Sara MacIntyre, M.A., CCC-SLP to share his story and discuss the dynamic nature of stuttering acceptance. Jack is mentored by Texas State University professor, Dr. Farzan Irani and, together, they co-wrote an ISAD Paper, "Speak The Change: Dynamic Nature of Stuttering Acceptance," which they will be presenting at the upcoming IFA World Congress in Montreal. In this episode, Jack walks us through his journey towards greater stuttering acceptance and what we means by 'dynamic nature,' how he learned to embrace his stuttering as part of his overall communication, and the process of leaving space within acceptance for making changes to how he approaches a moment of stuttering physically. Jack closes with advice he would give to his younger self as well as to young people who stutter in general. We are so thankful to Jack for opening up and sharing his journey with all of us!

Bio: Jack Rodriguez is a senior in the Communication Disorders program at Texas State University. His personal experiences with stuttering inspired him to pursue a degree in Speech-Language Pathology. His research interest includes the psychosocial aspects of stuttering and is currently in the process of completing his Honors Thesis. He also serves as the president for the NSSLHA chapter at Texas State University. 

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Sara MacIntyre, M.A., CCC-SLP and Ellen Kelly, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, BCS-F take on the most popular episode, "Communication Over Fluency" for a Part 2! In their discussion, they break down both terms into more depth and add practical, take-away clinical examples and nuggets throughout. The idea of taking 'fluency off the table' is complex when considering wanting to support clients in their unpacking and peeling away of what can get in their way of saying what they want to say and being the most effective communicators they can be. They further discuss our role in this process as therapists and interweave Solution Focused Brief Therapy questioning as a means of guiding individuals to discover and identify the path that will get them each closer to where they hope to be as individual communicators. 

Additional Resources: 

• Avoidance Reduction Therapy in a Group Setting with Vivian Sisskin
• Praise the Showing Up by Vivian Sisskin
• Covert Stuttering: Transitioning from Covert to Overt

For episode suggestions or comments, please feel free to email Sara: [email protected].

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Sharon Millard, Ph.D., MRCSLT, Reg.HCPC from the Michael Palin Centre joins Sara MacIntyre, M.A., CCC-SLP to discuss a topic she recently presented on at the Rome I.C.O.C. (International Conference on Stuttering) titled, "Does Therapy Satisfy Children Who Stutter?" Dr. Millard shared feedback and research from the child perspective on what their reported best hopes for change were, and a discussion surrounding how we meet those needs from children, allowing those to shape our therapy. In addition, Dr. Millard emphasizes the strong benefits of using Solution-Focused Brief Therapy as a means of, in an individualized manner, drawing out client's hopes, goals for change, and what 'satisfies' them in order to best meet their needs within therapy. Finally, Dr. Millard gives an overview of how to incorporate the child's perspective into the Palin Model (see below links for more information), and ends with a discussion exploring potential future areas of research.

To learn more about the Michael Palin Centre: Click Here
Resources for SLPs/ SLTs from MPC

Sharon Millard Ph.D., MRCSLT, Reg.HCPC:  Dr. Sharon Millard is the Research Lead and a Clinical Lead Speech and Language Therapist at the Michael Palin Centre, where she has worked since 1995.  Dr. Millard has published research into the efficacy and effectiveness of interventions developed at the Michael Palin Centre and is co-author of the Palin Parent Rating Scales (a free, online outcome measurement tool completed by parents).  Dr. Millard has had a number of editorial roles, presents regularly at international conferences and is involved in a number of scientific committees.  She is currently Chief Investigator for an NIHR funded feasibility trial to explore Palin Stammering Therapy for School Children (8-14) and Co-Chair for the Oxford Dysfluency Conference.  In addition to her role at MPC, Dr. Millard is a lecturer and clinical tutor at City, University of London. Dr. Millard is a certified European Fluency Specialist.

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Kicking off a new year with our first episode of Season 4 with a very special guest! Jane Fraser, FRCSLT, President of Stuttering Foundation , joins Sara MacIntyre, M.A., CCC-SLP to share the history of Stuttering Foundation in honor of the 75th Anniversary this year. Ms. Fraser shares early memories of her father, discusses his relationship with his stuttering, the beginnings and evolution of Stuttering Foundation, memories from the first workshops with the 'Stuttering Greats,' and finally, what she think her father would be most proud of.

For more information on the History of Stuttering Foundation, "How One Person Can Make a Difference."

For episode suggestions/ comments: [email protected].

Bio: Jane Fraser, Hon. FRCSLT, serves as the president of The Stuttering Foundation of America, a position she has held since 1981. The oldest and largest nonprofit organization for the prevention and treatment of stuttering, the Foundation has grown tremendously in size, scope and outreach under her leadership and direction. 

The daughter of Stuttering Foundation founder Malcolm Fraser, Ms. Fraser received a degree in Russian and Linguistics at Bryn Mawr College and continued graduate work in both subjects at the Universite de Strasbourg, France. As an avid student of language and speech, Ms. Fraser is fluent in French and lived in that country for 20 years. An experienced editor, translator, and interpreter, she previously worked for the Institut Gustave Roussy and for the Assemblee Nationale in Paris.

Among her many professional affiliations, Ms. Fraser lists: Member, NIDCD Advisory Council of the National Institutes (1996-2000); Vice President, Action for Stammering Children in London; President, The Malcolm Fraser Foundation; Member, Societe Francaise de Phoniatrie; and Member, International Association of Logopaedics and Phoniatrics. 

Other affiliations: Member, Advisory Council, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communicative Disorders (1996-2000); Member, Board of Trustees, Hamilton College, Clinton, New York (1991-1997); Board member, The Orianne Society; Co-Chairman, Regional Campaigns, Hamilton College; Co-Chairman, Parents Association, Pitzer College, Claremont, California; Board Member, National Association for Hearing and Speech Action (1984-1987); Member, Board of Trustees of The Alexander Hamilton Institute.

Personal honors and awards include a past Carnegie Foundation grant for Russian studies in Russia and the Distinguished Alumnae of the Century Award, Hutchison School Centennial, 2002; the Outstanding Contribution Award from the International Stuttering Association at their World Congress in Dubrovnik, Croatia, on May 9, 2007; was chosen Nonprofit Executive of the Year by the Nonprofit Times in 2008. On Sept. 17, 2014, she received an honorary fellowship from the Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists for her distinguished service in promoting the profession of speech and language therapy.

Personal honors and awards include: Distinguished Alumnae of the Century Award, Hutchison School Centennial, 2002; the Outstanding Contribution Award from the International Stuttering Association, 2007. She was chosen Nonprofit Executive of the Year by the Nonprofit Times in 2008.