Perceptions of Persons who Stutter before and after Attending Support Group Meetings

The authors surveyed members of a stuttering support group to assess the perceptions of persons who stutter (PWS) before and after attending support group meetings as well as factors that may be involved in sustainability of support groups for PWS. The group leadership incorporated into meetings, principles that would be most salient to helping PWS in a support group environment. The group integrated many of the 11 key therapeutic principles proposed by Yalom (1995) for effective group counselling and group therapy. Preliminary data indicate that involvement in the support group resulted in more positive feelings about being called a PWS and being a PWS and lessened the impact that stuttering has on a member's life. Participants reported that they gained hope, confidence, self-esteem, and a positive outlook as a result of attending support group meetings. Overall, it appears that the views of the respondents were consistent with several of Yalom's principles. The members believed that their involvement in meetings led them to positively change their views about stuttering and their own acceptance of their stuttering.