Acceptance and Speech Work: The Challenge

This paper explores issues involved in working on acceptance and speech in stuttering therapy. The authors have interests in person-centred counselling, mindfulness and disability studies and these areas underpin the discussion. A variety of definitions of acceptance are given, followed by a brief discussion on how it relates to the process of change. This is explored from a range of perspectives including mindfulness (Kabat-Zinn, 1996, ), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) (Harris, 2009, ), compassion-focussed therapy (Gilbert, 2010, ) and person-centred therapy (Rogers, 1951). Acceptance work is then discussed more specifically in the context of stammering therapy. Throughout this paper we use the term ‘speech work’ to describe both stuttering modification strategies and fluency skills or fluency-shaping.