Saturday, July 09, 2005

Male stutterers but female therapists

Just a quick thought for today. Most people with PDS are male. But most speech and language therapists (SLTs) are female, at least in the UK. I think that in the US it is more balanced. Interestingly, the US/Canadian call themselves speech and language PATHOLOGISTS rather then the more "female" therapist.

I have always wondered whether this does not actually have a negative effect on the therapy outcome. I generally have the impression that female therapists are too soft with their male clients. (Though I know of quite though female therapists!! :-) I think men need more pushing and goal-oriented practise, and far less talking and listening. But I understand this might not apply for all men.

I am wondering how many men with PDS have actually married their/a therapist! I know of one!

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

I suspect you will find cross culturally that there are more female therapists in ANY field that uses the word therapist as its descriptor. Some investigations have alluded to the idea that THERAPY, counseling, or any of its otherwise known as terms, are more verbally oriented--an area of the brain that women are generally better designed for...also an idea illustrated in various studies.
And of course, this verbose comment is sent to you by a female therapist!

Cheers,
PSWilliams

Tom Weidig said...

So as a therapist, what is the effect of having female therapists working with male clients?

John MacIntyre said...

You know, I've noticed this myself. All of my therapist have been extremely nice women who have probably been pretty soft with me.

But my god man; not the Therapist I just had! She's tough as nails! Don't get me wrong, she supports you when you need it, but when it's time to fly ... she's peeling your fingers off the edge of the nest! ;)

Here's a blurb from one of my blog postings:

"I told Lori I needed a pep talk. I did need one, but didn’t expect one … actually I didn’t even really want one. Lori doesn’t exactly hold your hand, it’s not her style, and wouldn’t really benefit me anyways. She’s pretty good at knowing when providing support makes you stronger, and when it will make you weaker … then acts accordingly."