Stammering occurs in one per cent of adults, and children who have stammered for more than three years are more likely to continue to stammer into adulthood. Group therapy has been shown to be particularly beneficial with this client group. Participants have made plans to start their own monthly support group, which is a welcome bi-product of the group therapy.
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The Developing Face of Stammering Therapy in Dorset a Group Therapy Approach
Stammering occurs in one per cent of adults, and children who have stammered for more than three years are more likely to continue to stammer into adulthood. Group therapy has been shown to be particularly beneficial with this client group. Participants have made plans to start their own monthly support group, which is a welcome bi-product of the group therapy.
Stammering occurs in one per cent of adults, and children who have stammered for more than three years are more likely to continue to stammer into adulthood. Group therapy has been shown to be particularly beneficial with this client group. Participants have made plans to start their own monthly support group, which is a welcome bi-product of the group therapy.
The developing face of stammering therapy in Dorset:
a group therapy approach
Emma Cooper, in collaboration with Mary Wells-West and Mary Halson, Specialist Speech and Language Therapists
Background
Stammering occurs in one per cent of adults, and children who have been stammering for more than three years are more likely to continue to stammer into adulthood (1). Although a relatively small percentage of adults are affected, the impact on their lives can be significant. Speech and Language Therapists promote ways to accept, but also live more easily as a person who stammers. The current service
Therapy in Dorset for adults who stammer has always been one-to-one but we recognise the benefits of group therapy for this client group. Unlike other services which have a dedicated service for those who stammer, we manage these clients as part of the general busy adult community caseload. We want to provide the best evidence-based treatment possible, despite the service limitations. Group therapy has been shown to be particularly beneficial with this client group (2). Results so far
Prior to the group starting, the participants completed various assessments and outcome tools, including the Wright and Ayre Stuttering Self-Rating Profile (3), and a functional rating scale. We are yet to run the final follow-up session which is when these will be completed again, therefore formal clinical outcome measures are yet to be collected. Written comments and verbal feedback from the participants about their experiences of the group have been positive, with peer support being a key theme to emerge. The participants have made plans to start their own monthly support group, which is a welcome bi-product of the group therapy. Having a support group may encourage more independent maintenance in the future, and reduce long-term reliance on the Speech and Language Therapy service. Hopes for the future
We hope to be able to provide this group as part of the future service provision for adults who stammer. It may be that we are able to reduce the number of individual sessions clients receive, with earlier participation in a group. Fewer individual sessions would save on therapists time and therefore would be cost effective, but without any disadvantage to the clients. Where possible we envisage several groups being run a year. Participants fed back that a longer course would have been beneficial. This is something we can consider.
The group has been a positive and worthwhile venture for all involved and now developed we hope it has a place in the developing care pathway for adults who stammer in Dorset. Speech and Language Therapy, Dorset Healthcare University Foundation Trust Emma Cooper, Specialist Speech and Language Therapist. Tel. (01202) 307686. Email: emma.cooper@dhuft.nhs.uk The group helped with overcoming problems and provided social support. I looked forward to the sessions every week! It has been very helpful to meet the group and positive to talk to others with the same problem. Much better than one-to-one therapy...The group has made me realise what to concentrate on to achieve my goals. Useful group discussions and feedback from othersReally helpful sessions. Please continue! We are reminded in every session that we are not alone. We are reminded of the things we should consider when dealing with stammering. Aims
We aimed to develop a group therapy course for those who had already received individual therapy. The group has run over six weeks with six two-hour evening sessions. There is a follow-up session which will take place six weeks after the last session of the block. The group has revisited areas covered in individual therapy, e.g. good communication, identification, desensitisation, fluency- enhancing behaviours and avoidance reduction, but in a totally different environment. The participants have been encouraged to develop individual goals to move forward in what will become their own self-directed therapy. References
1. British Stammering Association Website [Internet]. [Cited 2014 July 1st]; Available from: http://www.stammering.org/help-information/people-stammer/adults/basic-information-adults-who-stammer 2. Turnball, J. and Stewart, T. Dysfluency Resource Book. 2 nd edition. Milton Keynes: Speechmark Publishing Ltd; 2010. 3. Wright, L. and Ayre, A. Wright and Ayre Stuttering Self-Rating Profile. Bicester: Winslow Press Ltd; 2000.
DBT The Union of The Expressive Arts and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy With Adolescents Presenting With Traits of Borderline Personality Disorder in A Residential Setting