ARTS® – a therapy approach that changes the way we look at stuttering
Stuttering is not just about speech
What other people see are blocks and repetitions of sounds, syllables and even whole words. Some people also show secondary behaviours, such as various tics, sudden movements or jerks, sounds or noises, which distract attention or help the person get a difficult word out.
But inside every person who stutters there is an entire inner world that steers and shakes them from within.
That is why stuttering is often illustrated with an iceberg in the sea: the tip that shows above the water represents everything others can see, while the huge part below the surface holds all kinds of fears (fear of others’ reactions, fear of rejection, fear of loneliness, fear of not being good enough...), shame and hiding the stuttering, guilt, anger, rage, feelings of inferiority and helplessness, as well as avoiding speaking situations, avoiding “difficult” words, and all the effort and stress that accompany the person throughout life.
How stuttering becomes a problem
One of the ways it becomes a problem is through the use of various strategies to avoid stuttering. Over time, however, these strategies become an inseparable part of the stuttering itself. Speech difficulties are now accompanied by anxious patterns of behaviour. This is where ARTS comes in.
What ARTS® does
ARTS® (Avoidance Reduction Therapy for Stuttering) is a therapy approach that works on exactly this hidden part. Instead of hiding and suppressing, it teaches acceptance and openness: it reduces the resistance and struggle in speaking, frees people from fear and shame, and makes speaking without tension possible.
An evolution in stuttering therapy
A shift away from traditional techniques focused on achieving fluent speech towards a contemporary, humanistic approach: working on self-acceptance and integrating elements of cognitive behavioural therapy and mindfulness into work with clients.
What is the ultimate goal
Effective, confident and comfortable communication. For professionals, it means building on existing approaches with new insights for long-term results.
For people who stutter, it is a simple and powerful goal: “To say what I want, when I want, comfortably and spontaneously.”
ARTS® helps parents of children who stutter to be a source of support, especially in the formative years, when stuttering can lead to withdrawal, depression and social anxiety. Parents are the best allies and complement the work professionals do with their children.
Where to experience ARTS® live
The approach becomes tangible through meeting its author in person. Choose the event that suits your role.