Many recent news interviews and articles have made a matter of fact declaration that "stuttering is not caused by trauma."  It's true that young preschool children do not begin to stutter because of trauma.  Stuttering is best classified as a neurological disorder.  Now let's look at the role that traumatic experiences play in the complex communication disorder called stuttering- or stammering in the UK.   Teasing, bullying, mimicking, stupid and harmful comments are traumatic for the person who stutters (pws).  The pws develops anxiety, avoidance, and shame as a result of the traumatic experiences of said hurtful moments of stuttering.  The pws who stutters can also feel ashamed and remember avoiding talking (i.e., declining a reading at a wedding).  The CDC researched and discovered that 61% of adults remember Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE).  To honor,understand, and to effectively help pws the life experience of stuttering must become clear.  The personal experience of trauma within the pws is responsible for "the iceberg of stuttering" and the "giant in chains complex."  Listen to this and other podcasts of mine that examine fear and the psychological parts of stuttering.    

Yes, I said that you can be a CHAMPION in stuttering.  Listen for my 10 point plan to help unleash your speech and your confidence.

What is L2?  Look and let it out!  People who stutter tend to look away and to compensate for stuttering from a place of fear or embarrassment.  A snap shot of a moment of stuttering may be a pws introducing himself and following these steps: 1) look away, 2) inhale, 3) begin to stutter, 4) back up and insert several "uhs and ums," 5) retry the word and stutter through it.  To stutter more easily and freely listen to this podcast and implement ideas that you agree with.  My first podcast was called Purpose Intention and Stuttering.  L2 is congruent with that key concept. 

  "Don't try to figure out what other people want to hear from you; figure out what you have to say."   Barbara Kingsolver

Jason and Tim catch up 20 years and one month after our last session.  At age 25 he was an engineer doing desk work.   His old anxiety was holding him back.  Now he has 20 years of constant talking, phone calling, internet chats, seminar talks, managing, and team building under his belt. He travels internationally and get to speak to people of all cultures.  That could be quite intimidating.   Listen to how he has been so successful.  Fitness is one of his key ingredients.  I am a big fan of cardio work for mental acuity and stress management. Jason also tells us to speak up and that we are more than stuttering!  As you listen to several of my other podcasts you are reminded that adults who stutter can still transform and liberate themselves in their 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, and beyond. 

Many of you know John's name from his book Redefining Stuttering: What the Struggle to Speak is Really About.  He also authored the famous Stuttering Hexagon diagram and article. John explains why he prefers the concept of "Holding Back" over stuttering.  He was one of the original 15 people who participated in the National Stuttering Project- now known as the National Stuttering Association.  John participated in Toastmasters for several years before leading public speaking workshops in the Bay Area of California. I have learned a lot from John since first meeting him in 1997.  I think he helps SLPs think outside the box of mainstream treatment methods for stuttering.(Search his book title on on the internet and the 600+ page book is available for free on PDF). 

Ian Trimble is a cyber security expert.  He speaks all day long.  He is a trainer and a consultant.  Ian's childhood included teasing, bullying, and avoidance.  He had a life time of speech therapy before we met when he was in his early 20's.  Ian explains how cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) via NLP and Neurosemantics provided him the life-changing breakthrough he sought after.  Listen to his story of resolve and courage.  

Children who stutter are often teased and bullied.  This leads to a social anxiety, avoiding, and the fear of talking.  Social anxiety starting in childhood can persist into adulthood. This podcast explains the psychological impact of teasing and how parents and teachers can support the child who stutters.  This is really important! 

A healthy sense of humor is like medicine for stuttering- it can help take the pain and anxiety away.    People who stutter (pws) can spend a life time attempting to conceal their stuttering. Why? Teasing and bullying is real problem for ps.  Pws believe they will be judged for stuttering. Rob Bloom, of Orlando Florida, joins Tim in this podcast. We reflect back and we wish we would have disclosed our stuttering and used humor to de-personalize it.   If a pws can make light of his stuttering and "set the frames" for it, what happens to fear and social anxiety?  The Iceberg of Stuttering begins to melt.  Begin to set the narrative for your stuttering.  Never apologize and be bold.  You are more than stuttering. 

Read this later: https://www.stuttering-specialist.com/post/the-stuttering-iceberg-russ-hicks. 

The Miracle Question Pattern (MQP) helps a person who stutters (PWS) make goals that are within reach.  After a clinician interviews the pws, the clinician may lead the MQP process.  Many pws can independently do this pattern after listening to this podcast.  The MQP was created in the 1970's by Steve De Shazar and Insoo Kim Berg.  Solution Focused Brief Therapy evolved out of the work of De Shazar and Berg.  PWS have anxiety and fear related to stuttering.  The MQP can help identify and change the elements that lead to anxiety and avoidance. I used it to help myself.  I have been using it for 30 years.  Have a great 2022 and beyond!

People who stutter (pws) often have very specific feared words and sounds.  Pws can go to great lengths to avoid and/or develop tricks and crutches intended to conceal stuttering.  Ordering Teriyaki chicken was one of my phobias.