An Integrated Treatment Model for Effective Stuttering Management - Catherine Montgomery
Jan Logan reports on the 6th Oxford Dysfluency Conference, 2002

Catherine Montgomery introduced an Integration Model of stammering therapy, which combines desensitisation and speech management techniques. She draws on her own fluency-shaping background as well as the work of Dorvan Breitenfeldt who developed The Stuttering Self-Management Programme, based largely on Van Riper's Block Modification therapy.

The Integrated Treatment Model is an intensive group therapy programme that addresses the emotional and psychological aspects of stammering as well as offering tools to manage stammering more effectively.

Catherine sees therapy very much as a 'healing process' where healing from emotional pain becomes a central part of recovery. Sharing and exchanging experiences is therefore a key aspect of the programme. Clients develop positive self-talk and use affirmations to challenge negative beliefs and thoughts as well as learning visualisation and meditation techniques to manage stress.

Following identification and desensitisation clients focus on speech and voice management techniques. This offers them a way to manage their stammering more comfortably.

Transfer activities such as using the phone, group conversations and public speaking are included in the final week of the course. The aim is for clients to be able to leave the course with a tool kit, which will support their progress. This includes a range of affirmations such as:

Advertise - that I might stutter sometimes/that I am working on my speech
Educate and desensitise others
Take on challenges
Use visualisation and positive self-talk
Meditate to relax body and mind
Maintain eye contact - especially when I block
Everything is opportunity - I look at all situations as opportunities to learn and grow

There is great emphasis on post-course support including participation in National Stuttering Association support groups and phone link-ups along with the opportunity to speak to the speech therapist on the phone. I was interested to note that Catherine draws on self-help literature, which is not designed specifically for people who stammer. She requires all people attending her course to read three books, which she identifies prior to them attending a course. Two of the titles she recommends are:
"What to say when you talk to yourself" - Helmstetter
"Happiness is a choice" - Barry Neal Kaufman.

Catherine Montgomery is the Director of The American Institute for Stuttering, New York, USA - www.stutteringtreatment.org

From the Winter 2002 edition of Speaking Out

See also: Catherine Montgomery, integrated therapy - summary of conference call in May 2005