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From: michael sugarman
Date: 05 Oct 2008
Time: 22:54:14 -0500
Remote Name: 71.139.176.220
Thank you very much in exploring these relationships. The emergence of the self help movement during the late 70's may have increased the number of professionals growing from the person with the disability becoming therapists. "I know what it feels like and I can really relate and do a better job with others who stutter". These were comments I heard from a number of pws who later became professional slp's. I am a social worker in the field of HIV. About a decade ago attended a conference for social workers,counselors and therapists working in the field. A gay psychologist from NY spoke and was booed. He spoke that clients did not disclose or discuss problems due to the therapist possibly being identified as gay. Or in other words clients felt they did not talk about change or things because they (clients) felt the therapist understood what they were going through. I want to share what happened to me while in high school. I saw my school speech therapist in high school. The therapist stuttered. I don't remember how severe or mild his stutter was. I left the room and never returned. About ten years later I often wondered if the slp who stuttered could have tracked me down and share with me about his stutter and how it may have affected me. Thank you again for writing this paper. How do u think clients feel? Michael