On 1st nov (sunday) we had our 4th SHG meeting in jammu.This meeting started at 4 pm and ended at 6:15 pm. In this meeting, there were 3 members(Aditya, Rajesh(new member) and me) .
First of all we started introducing ourselves.R is working in a finance company.He never got a chance to go for a speech therapy. So it was our duty to tell him about the few key points that would help him to manage his stammer.
R came to know about the Jammu SHG through a social networking site (orkut). So I visited his orkut profile to know a lil bit more about him.His profile was quite interesting but there was no Communities related to stammering in his community section.So I got a hint that he is still hiding his stammer. So my main focus was to let him know the benifits of Accepting stammering.
Aditya and I focused on Acceptance for the first 1 hour or so.R also shared some of his feelings with us. R said that he is very ashamed of his stammer and that was the reason why he didn’t joined any stammering community on orkut. He said that he just hated the word “stammer”.
He was not having too much secondary symptoms. Then he told us that because he is working in a finance company, very often he has to speak the word “credit” and this was the word on which he struggles the most. The initial sound of kkkkk was the problem . So we started to explain him the techniques such as bouncing,prolongation ,light contact etc which would help him to speak the difficult words with ease.
We also told him about the importance Diaphragm breathing and slow rate of speech. I think that about 80% of our stammering goes away if we breathe properly while speaking and try to speak as slow as we can. The slow rate of speech wont be easy for anyone and will take sometime to get use to this rate of speech. It would be good if we keep on practicing this slow speech and implement it in real life situations .
In order to totally change his attitude towards stammering, the documentry movie “The unspeakable” by john paskievich is very important. So in our next meeting I am going to give him few documentry movies on stammering.
7 thoughts on “4th meeting of Jammu SHG”
admin
(November 4, 2009 - 1:45 pm)Great going buddy. Keep the good work going..A suggestion for anyone working as a counselor…don't try to be authoritative with people…give them their time & u will see they will change and blossom..
admin
(November 4, 2009 - 2:29 pm)Sry JP, But I didnt got what you r trying to say.
admin
(November 4, 2009 - 4:25 pm)I was working with my cousin brother who stammers & was really trying to force him to do an activity…Now as I see thats not how a good counselor should be but rather always let the other person take his decision, make him feel that he/she is in control..that is what I was trying to say…This can do wonders
Sachin
(November 5, 2009 - 3:33 am)Dear Manpreet
I am SOOOOOOOO pleased with what you are doing ! God bless you ever and ever..
You are on the right track. Self help and helping others for no worldly motive – can there be anything greater than this?
If you ever have any question, just pick up the phone. Tele-counseling is well accepted as a mode of therapy..
Congratulate both Aditya and Rajesh from a fellow stutterer
sachin
admin
(November 5, 2009 - 7:26 am)ok JP , I'll keep this in mind. and thanks sachin sir for ur comments. I'll tell Addy to have a voice chat with you sometimes . And my stammering has really improved a lot. I dont say its gone but yes improved a lil bit. Still get blocked in some difficult situatioins but try to use my techniques and come out of that block. One more question sir, On youtube i have seen a video of peter who is using a technique called as "pull out". but I didnt got what actually he was doing internally.
Pam
(November 6, 2009 - 3:54 am)Manpreet,
Great post, great explanation of your meeting and its successes. I am sure the new member felt warmly welcomed and appreciated your ideas and suggestions.
Interestingly, I have been discussing bouncing with a fellow pws who is from India, and he has found great success with it.
Talking with each other about our stuttering experiences, and being open to try different strategies to increase confidence, is hugely helpful to all of us.
I continue to respect the work you all are doing with self help groups.
Keep up the great work.
admin
(November 6, 2009 - 8:44 am)Thanks Pam for ur comment. all of these comments even motivates me to do more and more in helping other fellow pws.
Thanks once again.
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