Thinking to change

Geoffrey Brown, who has co-developed the 'MACH1' NLP course, sets it in the context of his own journey with stammering. Below are some comments from participants.

Geoffrey Brown (left) with Barbara and Daniel Gomersall.

Although written for the Spring edition of Speaking Out, I'm writing this on Christmas eve - traditionally time to reflect on all the blessings we have and what really matters in life. Let me give you a quick potted history of my experiences as someone who knows all too well how stammering can influence your life.

A confession first of all - I am not one of those brave souls who can hand on heart say stammering has not been a weight on my life. It has, both in my work and socially. I remember thinking when I was a teenager I would have literally walked the world if it meant the stammer would disappear. Maybe I should have done, it could well have made a huge difference about how I see myself and my place on this planet. So...what did I do about it, what has helped me most and what has all this got to do with the MACH programme?

I've done the A to Z of courses and approaches available in the UK and beyond. I've got many people to thank for their insights, wisdom and encouragement (see the acknowledgements below) and what do I finally conclude? Well, a short story first. Way back in 2001 at the BSA conference in Liverpool I was fortunate enough to spend some time talking with the late Lena Rustin who was so instrumental in the creation of the Michael Palin Centre. I don't know the citation to this piece of work but she told me about a group of stammerers who were arbitrarily divided into two. Over a year or so one group received speech therapy, the other group received none, but met frequently to mingle and chat in a party-like atmosphere. As one might expect, those people receiving speech therapy made good progress and initially left the others far behind. But, counter-intuitively, at the one year stage, those receiving no speech therapy showed the most improvement, and presumably they'd had far more fun too! Of course Lena did pioneering work in studying the interactions which impact on stammering behaviour. At that same conference there was a video continuously playing a recording of the late Dr. Joseph Sheehan, the deeply influential psychologist, talking about his approach to helping people who stammer. No doubt this was in recognition that Viv Sheehan was the keynote speaker that year. Anyone who hasn't seen this video* should - it's inspirational and has informed my own thinking for years.

Different approach

"maybe it would be helpful to think of myself as a fluent speaker who stammers occasionally"

How we think and how we approach situations has a huge impact upon how we speak - both Lena Rustin and Joseph Sheehan knew this well - which led me to becoming interested in attending several courses in communication based on NLP techniques run by Mike Jones. He suggested that maybe it would be helpful to think of myself as a fluent speaker who stammers occasionally rather than a stammerer who speaks fluently sometimes. It took me a while to accept this as valid - I had to run it past the truth committee in my head several times until I finally took on board this major flip in my thinking and eventually I went on to train in NLP myself.

So, what has all the above got to do with the reasoning behind the creation of MACH 1? The programme was developed with extensive input from an old friend, Barbara Gomersall, who is an NLP Master Practitioner and an INLPTA accredited NLP Trainer. The four-day course is relaxed and informal, yet has been carefully designed to take delegates through a series of linked interventions which will modify their belief systems, thinking patterns and habitual behaviour, ultimately impacting at the highest level - that of identity. In the process it builds confidence, self-worth and self-esteem, enabling people to focus, not on their speaking, but on communicating with others in a much more relaxed and comfortable way.

So far we've run three courses. The latest, in October 2009, was commissioned by Warrington Stammering Support Group, who were lucky enough to obtain external funding for the training. The feedback was dream quality for us (see their comments below), plus we made some great friendships and all had a grand time.

On my personal journey, I have seen first hand that everyone is unique and, whilst one person may benefit from one particular course, others may gain more from a different approach. MACH1 is not meant to compete with Starfish, McGuire or any other existing programme; it is intended to be complementary.

The difference between what I was and what I am now is the difference between a man lost in a forest without a compass and a man with a Sat Nav. Even if I wobble occasionally, I'm, nevertheless, a happy bunny.

We're very happy to talk to SLTs and support groups about our work and to provide courses for specific groups. We aim to offer training more frequently, as our approach becomes more widely known, and with the support of the stammering community we will. We will always go the extra mile to help anyone ready to change.

Particular thanks to (in alphabetical order): Anne Blight of Starfish, John Harrison, Mike Jones, David McGuire of the McGuire Programme, Lena Rustin, Trudy Stewart, the people at City Lit and the numerous co-travellers on this epic journey of self-discovery. And, essentially, the work of the late, great, Joseph Sheehan.

*Sheehan's video 'Message to a stutterer' is in the BSA members library.

MACH1 website: www.stammering.co.uk

Participants' perspective on MACH1
by Yinka Dolan

The Warrington Support Group's website - warringtonstammeringsupportgroup.org.uk

I organise the Warrington Support Group for people who stammer, and was very keen that the members of the group could all attend the MACH1 course. With the help of Warrington Council for Volunteers, I was able to secure funding from the Government's 'Grassroots' programme.

The MACH1 course offered a way forward, the chance of fluency, but in a new way - not concentrating on the way we spoke. The first exercise was to stand at the front and introduce ourselves to the group, pretty standard stuff. This is daunting enough for fluent speakers so imagine how we all felt! From here on in the course content was anything but standard, completely new for me and refreshing. The approach was to look at the way we view ourselves and those around us, how we think people see us, and how we can improve our perception of ourselves. We started with where we were in our lives, where we wanted to be and finally how to get there.

The nine other attendees on our course were a joy to learn with, a good mix of male and female participants with varied levels of fluency and self confidence. We all gelled well; all participated in the exercises and supported each other. The talking and exchange of ideas never stopped even at break time! As a bonus to what we learnt over the four days, it was inspiring to meet with others who stammered, share our own experiences and hear about their triumphs. As the days went on, we talked less about stammering and more about life in general; maybe a sign the things we were learning were having an effect!

Since attending MACH1, I have seen the world in a different way. My own place in it has gained more importance in my own eyes, which is the key for me. I am equal to everyone else and my opinions and ideas are just as valid and important as theirs. My speech has improved; not because I speak differently or with a technique, but because I now have self-worth and believe what I say should be heard and valued. The support I have received after the course has been great - by email, phone and face-to-face with fellow delegates, who I now count as friends

Below is some of the feedback from other members of our group:

"I am now more positive in my life, more outgoing and chattier with strangers. I now firmly believe what I have to say is important and worth listening to. My confidence has increased immensely, and subsequently I am more fluent and now enjoy speaking. I cannot thank the people at MACH1 enough for helping me realise my potential and improve my life."
Paul R

"I'm very proud of being a member of the support group and also of what I've achieved on the MACH1 course. I found the course very inspiring."
Emma

"I thought that MACH1 was really useful in getting us to focus on the positives, also in allowing us to enter a chosen mindset in which to speak and just how much how we think affects how we speak."
Joan T

"The biggest comment about the course that I have is that it's not only made me view my stammer in a different way but my entire life."
Laura

"The course meant a lot to me and I will carry on using the techniques we have all learned. I feel honoured to have met such a wonderful, funny, and interesting group of people. I hope we will remain friends for years to come."
Joan W

"The Mastering Change course has now given me a better understanding and has helped my speech tremendously. I just need to keep up the training!"
David

"I thought the MACH1 course was absolutely amazing. It has given me a real insight into the psychological aspect of my speech and how I am able to change the way I think about it. I feel like a completely different person since I have completed the course, so much more confident, calm and in control. It's magic!!"
Karen

"I found most of the MACH1 course useful. I think the course was very well set up and organised. Some of the exercises I found a bit hard but overall it was good. I also met a lot of nice people."
Mat

For more information on the Warrington Support Group, go to www.warringtonstammeringsupportgroup.org.uk

From the Spring 2010 issue of Speaking Out, pages 10-11.

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