BSA Conference 2009: Introduction to problem solving

Presenters: Karen Morgan, Gemma Clarke

Review by David Preece

Problems in speech can be never-ending for people who stammer, and this workshop set out to show ways to confront and overcome them. Karen and Gemma, Specialist Speech and Language Therapists at the London-based Michael Palin Centre for Stammering Children, posed a good example on the flip-chart to kick off the session: 'My problem is talking in a large group'.

What practical ideas did we have to overcome this? The 'large group' could be anything from a work meeting, or a social gathering to a family get-together and the presenters encouraged their audience to focus on solutions. The interaction was immediate and positive and Karen quickly had the flip-chart full of suggestions. Examples included: 'prepare beforehand', 'maintain eye contact', 'be open and honest about your stammer', 'stand your ground', and 'say what you believe'.

A volunteer, Mikey, then stepped forward to narrow down the options he felt would be best in his case to use for this situation, as an example to us all of arranging a personal approach.

The workshop was short (30 minutes) but packed with positives, humour and good input from the audience, including a telling observation from Rachel Albert, to the effect that 'problem' is a negative word and 'challenge' is more upbeat. This prompted Karen, with unanimous agreement, to change the title wording to this more positive stance.

You can download the workshop handout (Word doc).

From the Winter 2009 edition of Speaking Out, page 9.