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From: Victoria Molinaro
Date: 10/14/03
Time: 4:13:41 PM
Remote Name: 68.233.196.189
Hi. My name is Victoria and I'm a student at West Virginia University. I'm completing my Masters in Speech Pathology and my stuttering professor asked us to take part in this conference. After reading your paper, a HUGE lightbulb lite up! As a student, I have sat in numerous psychology classes and now I'm beginning to learn strategies for treatment of stuttering. Your paper helped put both together! You advice helped me realize that everyone who stutters also has feelings and the same struggles in every day life that millions of others face. You opened my eyes when you stated, "we can't change what we first don't accept". I immediately thought of an alcoholic; if an alcoholic can't admit that he has a problem and needs help, no one can help him. If a stutterer can't accept his way of speaking is different, he can't learn to deal with it in a positive manner.
I liked how you listed ways to boost self confidence - everyone could use a little self confidence advice!! I would have to agree that a stutterer with a high self confidence would have an easier time of accepting his stuttering behavior.
Years ago, a high school theater teacher showed us the exact progressive relaxation techniques you listed. She used these as a way for us to focus/concentrate on our lines and acting instead of the nervous feelings in the pits of our stomachs. It worked! Over and over again, it worked! I'd be willing to guess that it would benefit people who begin to stutter in stressful situations also. I'm glad you listed them.
Thanks for sharing your psychology expertise with us! You combined the two wonderfully and helped me put my years of psychology classes to good use in my field of speech disorders.