In July 2001, Professor Woody Starkweather and Janet Givens from the USA gave a workshop on gestalt therapy in London. Aspects of the workshop were controversial amongst some of the participants.

Here we present views from three participants, a speech and language therapist and two people who stammer. These are followed by comments from Woody and Janet which, as well as responding to issues raised, give further insight into the gestalt therapy approach.

Woody Starkweather has been a leading speech therapist and researcher for the past 35 years. With Janet Givens he moved into Gestalt therapy and established the Birch Tree Foundation (now dissolved).

Speech and language therapist:
    Isabel O'Leary

People who stammer:
    John Russell
    Nigel Hardy

From the facilitators, Woody and Janet:
    Woody's response
    Janet's response
    Janet's story

The workshop was entitled "Getting Below the Tip of the Iceberg, Experiential Therapy for Stuttering". It was presented by the Michael Palin Centre.

Gestalt therapy