Patients Tells

Hi Barbara, First of all, thank you for the online session we had. I really enjoyed talking to you and of course reviewing the natural and normal way of speaking that disappeared from me for some time. The session was very successful and I got a lot out of it. I learned a lot about myself and about the way to speak. I understand the (treatment) approach at CTI. I know that this approach is the right one and most important the natural method of speaking. I’m happy to share with you and help you understand the person who stutters. Even though I have always stuttered mildly, I suffered from a lack of confidence in some situations when I had to talk or express my opinions. That was certainly very frustrating and caused me discomfort and not a few times bitter disappointment. It is absurd to say that the normal way of speaking is the natural and easy way that little children speak, without any control or “filter”. It is just speaking without thinking about how to speak; speaking the way nature meant for us to speak. As a person who stutters mildly, I absolutely know that most people who stutter monitor their speech and plan what they are going to say. This is what disrupts the speech and makes it sound unnatural, causes prolongations, ends in blocks and causes certain words and sounds to get stuck. And it’s terribly, terribly frustrating for some one who has stuttered that unfortunately people who stutter still carry have a negative stigma. The secret is to speak without any monitoring, without filters, without preparing. Simply… talk automatically so that there is a natural coordination between the brain and the whole speech system! I still think that it is not so easy to get rid of the habit of focusing on words and doing all sorts of preparations to speak, such as changing words, prolonging words. It is really difficult for someone who has used the wrong process for speaking for many years to give up old habits and get used to speaking naturally. Making this change is not easy or simple for everyone, but it is possible and it is the only way to speak naturally without stuttering!! Practicing internal speech (speaking silently in the head) is really worthwhile. (That was what was missing for me all these years!!) So thank you very much for helping me get back my confidence in speaking. Already, during the past few days since our session, I have felt an improvement. This is the right approach!! A great approach!!! It is the approach that gets to the source of the problem instead of the syndrome and shaping the speech. If you would like, I would be happy to send you heartfelt recommendations so that everyone will see and will learn the importance of realizing that this is the approach that can save everyone from the problem of stuttering.

Barbara, I would be delighted for you to share my recording on your website! Using my name is fine as well. I believe in your methods and know they work. If I can help even one person pursue this therapy it would be an honor. What you taught me is a brilliant concept and if applied correctly and practiced can make speaking enjoyable and open so many doors. As someone who stutters I felt so alone in my battle and I always thought it was something I would live with and struggle with forever. Speaking doesn’t have to be hard or labored. I just needed the right tools to show me how to speak like everyone else does. Trying to speak is really what I was doing and when I accepted that and let go of that control I experienced a huge amount of freedom and relief. Thank you again for all the time you spent with me. I am continuing to make this way of speaking a habit and it gets easier every day. You helped me gain so much confidence and now I have hope for the future and am becoming who I’ve always wanted to be. Thanks again, Listen to an audio sample

Hello Barbara! You are my hero, you made me believe, I have no doubts about that! You know yesterday, I went to the stuttering association meeting.. It was only 5 people; I decided to facilitate & read the rules & stuff.. Words were flowing effortlessly while reading.. Then came the sharing part; I had 3 or 4 slight stumbles.. Here is the thing, the more I open up, the more I am in the moment & then speech doesn’t become an issue. It seems now I can feel my body much better, meaning I am more aware of the tightening & contraction of my organs, mainly the stomach, the diaphragm, the throat, the lower jaws. You have shown me how speech is made; & I understand how speech occurs.. Speech conveys a lotta info about the speaker. It’s not always the fear to stutter on a sound! I have noticed when I am resisting an emotion like fear for whatever reason, anger for whatever reason, anxiety, I’ll block it out & I struggle with my speech. Emotions that would make me feel like a normal human being. After all, spontaneous speech is expressing what u feel; like you said, a Gift from God! This journey is fun, Barbara !

Hi Barbara, It’s Kelly. I thought I’d send you an email just keeping in touch letting you know of my progress. I’ve never been happier with my speech! I’ve been working with my therapist a lot on certain internal issues like my tendency to constantly judge myself and I’ve really seen a turn around, so has my therapist and boyfriend. My stutter has dramatically decreased in the past months, I’ve never felt more free. I’m learning to live outside my own head and I’ve really taken a lot away from Ruth Mead’s book, it was honestly the best book I’ve ever read, I could relate so much to her words. I find that I worry less about occasions when I know I’ll need to speak to people. I’ve recently started helping cater a lot of parties for friends which requires me to go to social events where there’s 90 plus people. A few months ago I would have avoided such occasions like the plague. Having gone to several now I find that I actually enjoy myself while I’m there and my stutter is minimal. Even things like going to restaurants is more fun now, I don’t have to worry when the waitress comes to take our order, I simply order exactly what I want with no stress or stutter. Telephone conversations are still challenging but I actually have the confidence to call people now, make appointments etc whereas several months ago I avoided phone conversations all together. It’s like a whole new reality, a reality where I’m not afraid of life or my speech. Words cannot describe it.. Thank you for helping me get the ball rolling on this whole new chapter in my life, I never thought this was possible and for the first time I’m excited for the future. I really hope you’re well. Keep pushing your clients to come out of their shells, you truly helped me like no one else ever has and i know I’ll continue to improve everyday, Thanks for all your support.

Barbara Dahm presented a workshop to our speech therapists on November 12, 2006. The title of the seminar was “Dynamic Stuttering Therapy: A Dynamic Stuttering Therapy”. This 6-hour presentation was very well received by all those who attended. The participants found that the material was presented in a very professional and organized manner. New techniques were introduced and case studies were reviewed and discussed. The speech therapists went away with hands-on material that they could incorporate into their therapy sessions. Workshop participant.

The workshop puts a new perspective on the treatment of stuttering. It demonstrates a total approach to therapy and provides practical and useful advise for clinical practice.” My clients often come into therapy feeling helpless. After a few sessions they see clearly that there is no sound or word that they cannot say and this gives them the great courage they need in order to develop correct speech habits. The beauty of this program is that it’s not about being different than everyone else, but rather it’s about learning to be the same – & they can be the same! As a clinician it’s a pleasure to work with a program that is so thorough in its detail. I have used the method with teenagers and adults with equal success and in every situation have felt the thrill of seeing them develop abilities and confidence Thanks!

Rivkah had such an amazing experience working with you, Barbara. She gained so much in her speech and really feels confident and good about it. I hear a major change on the phone as well. She speaks so highly of you, and enjoyed all the conversations she had with you. Your intelligence, good nature and optimism made each session so interesting , comfortable and non-pressuring. . She really enjoyed every session with you! I would like to express our tremendous gratitude for all you have done. May you be blessed you with continued success, good health and everything good. We feel very blessed that you were sent to us.

This is just to say thank you for having me on the workshop. It was a great experience and I'm very glad to have attended. It was a great opportunity to meet other PWS from around the world, and I think I gained many valuable insights overall. There's a lot of work to be done but I'm confident about the way forward, and that's thanks to your workshop. It has given me a sense of a concreteness with regards to how to go about 'disappearing stuttering' - a solid framework that I didn't quite get from any of the books I had read on the subject before coming to you. Again, thanks for letting me in on that experience. Best,

Dear Barbara, Your course gave me a completely new perspective on stuttering. It is more than a method; its a way of looking at things, a natural way that takes into consideration the anatomical, physiological and mental state of the individual client. This approach doesn’t focus on the stuttering and its elimination, but rather focuses on the natural free way of speaking, and gives operative tools to reach it. You’re approach is so logical and it answers so many questions I've had. It is philosophical on one hand, and practical on the other hand, full of rationale and step by step exercises. Learning from you was an overwhelming experience, and today I already see a big positive difference in my patients way of speaking. Thank you so much!