“I am . . . an eighteen-year-old who stutters. My time spent in speech therapy with Alida Engel, CCC-SLP, BCS-SCF* greatly improved my fluency. Before starting speech therapy, my stuttering was between moderate and severe. After exploring several speaking techniques, Alida Engel, CCC-SLP, BCS-SCF* and I decided that prolonged speech was the best option to improve my fluency. That technique is part of the Camperdown Program.
“On the Camperdown scale of one to eight, my stuttering was initially at a level between six and seven. Today, it has dropped to between one and two. This significant progress was due to the many different aspects of Alida Engel, CCC-SLP, BCS-SCF*’s therapy process. Not only does she explore speaking techniques, but she also addresses factors such as causes, and the emotional and behavioral effects of stuttering.
“Most meaningful, she helped me change my attitude about stuttering altogether. I have learned that one does not have to believe in the negative thoughts that often occur in the mind of a stutterer. I am no longer afraid to stutter, and the confidence this gives, I believe, was a major factor in helping me to become more fluent.
“Alida Engel, CCC-SLP, BCS-SCF* and I have also integrated cognitive-behavioral therapy into the process, which helps me identify and address the anxieties that occur in different speaking situations. Working on a hierarchy, from less to more stressful situations, my social anxiety decreases as I become more successful in using prolonged speech in each one.
“Alida Engel, CCC-SLP, BCS-SCF* . . . has helped me to become a more fluent speaker and a more confident person. I feel that stuttering no longer defines me; my time spent with Alida Engel, CCC-SLP, BCS-SCF* has strengthened the other aspects of who I am. I thank her for helping me to become a happier and more confident individual.”
