Interview number two

Here is the second interview which was conducted only a few days ago. Chris from Bristol purchased the stuttering/gain-confidence fast track solution in August 2008.

27/01/2009

Me: Hi Chris, as explained last week when we spoke on the telephone I am conducting a series of interviews to post on my stuttering therapy blog and therefore will be asking you a number of questions. Thank you for agreeing to take part.

Chris: No problem, I am looking forward to it.

Q. I am always interested in finding out the reasons behind people attending one of my speech courses or purchasing one of the self-help stuttering therapy products. What were the main reasons behind your decision to purchase the stuttering/gain-confidence fast track solution.

A. Well I have tried many different forms of therapy in an attempt to overcome the stutter and had been rather disappointed with the results. I had been reading on the internet many conflicting thoughts on the subject of stuttering and its various treatments. There is a lot of negativity out there it has to be said and it is sometimes hard to believe that fluency can be attained.

I have actually read through your website and blog on many occasions and much of what you say certainly struck a chord with what I was going through.

The one-to-one speech course was of interest to me however I am not really in a financial position to afford the course fee especially if it was not going to be of benefit. There is the negativity coming out again, this is something that has dominated my character for much of my life.

In the end I decided to telephone you, this itself took a great deal of courage on my part, I can tell you. I did not want to spend any money before I spoke to the person who was offering the service.

After speaking with you I was convinced that you were the person that could help me to eradicate the stutter from my life once and for all. You spoke with a real passion about the subject and stated that you would help me in any way that you could for as long as was required. Your speech was so natural and seemed so effortless. Other people I have spoken with in the past who have offered me help are less fluid and you can really tell that they are using some form of technique such as costal breathing or are just speaking in what I would call an abnormal way. I wanted to sound ‘normal’ after therapy, I know that is a horrible word but it is just how I felt and I was more than happy when you confirmed that costal breathing was in no way a part of your therapy.

Me: Thank you for the kind words!

Q. How have you found the techniques?

A. Well they are all explained in depth and even I could understand the points you were trying to make! I could certainly tell that you have worked long and hard at formulating them. I have also worked very hard at the practice side of things and have been really pleased with my progress. My original aim was to be able to find a way of being able to say ‘my difficult words’, which included my own name. I achieved this first goal around three months ago and this was a massive achievement. My fluency over the last month has been the best it has ever been and I have not had any form of stutter in the last three weeks. I would like to think it has been eradicated forever but I am just going to take one day at a time.

It has been a real help to have you to speak and practice with as I do not have that many people who I wanted to really confide and practice with.

Me: As you can no doubt tell from our many conversations I am somebody who loves to talk therefore it is hardly a chore on my part. You are welcome to telephone me anytime.

Chris: As the advert once said, it is good to talk, or for people like us, it is good to be able to talk!

Me: Too right! Well thanks for your time Chris.

Chris: That is fine, I will phone you in a few days time.