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JavierModeratorHi again Tarek,
we all have our favourite Crutches, and that’s fine, and normal too. But we must know them all, because, logically, the more alternatives we know, the more easily we will solve the problem. There will be situations in which modulation will be the best option, but there will be others in which C-9, or C-1, or any other Crutch might be easier to use there.
Crutches 7-12 are more like “voices” or speaking styles, if that makes sense, and just like you said, they involve less thinking on words. C-10 and C-9 are very easy to learn too. To make sure you use C-9 properly, and without focusing on words, you simply need to make sure you feel the movements of your jaw and muscles of your face. Focus on that. When linking words, I make sure I leave no spaces or gaps between words. So words flow like a river, but I don’t focus on the words, I focus on not leaving gaps, on letting the air come out like a river.
When speaking softly or whispering, I just focus on the tone and volume of my voice.
Now, regarding C-2, immediacy is key. If you start to think of a synonym, it won’t work. So, you might need to practice this a bit. For me, C-4 has been the best for FFW. You simply start with a sound and then make sure you link it to the following words, and then use C-10.
Having a coach to show you how to use the Crutches properly, and correct you if needed, will surely help you a great deal…JavierModeratorHi Tarek! First of all, welcome to WSSA. I can understand what you say. Sometimes trying to use C-13 without mastering the other 12 can be too much, and we will have to master the other 12 Crutches to first to get there. Why? The reason the Crutches work is becuase when we use a Crutch, we are moving our focus of attention away from that feared/planned word. The moment we do that, we are fluent. Here’s an example: if I ask you to whisper something, you will have to concentrate on the tone of your voice, so that it becomes a whisper. If you do this, you won’t be thinking of the words. The same applies to the rest of the Crutches.
So, if you use the Crutches as much as possible, 24/7, even when not needed (this is important!), after a while, it will become a habit. A habit of speaking while focusing on Crutches (not on words). So, you will be acquiring a habit of speaking without planning words = C-13!!
The problem I face with most PWS at the beginning is that they think they are using a Crutch, when they actually aren’t. Exaggeration is key. Since at the begining PWS are not used to speak whispering/modulating/using extreme pronunciation/inserting stops/etc., at the beginning they will be using them very subtly, so they won’t be very effective. Exaggeration is key! You will feel that when you exaggerate the Crutches, your speech sounds weird. It’s all in your head, because you’re not used to it. Record yourself! And you’ll be surprised with the result.
For example, when I ask a PWS to talk inserting full stops every 1-3 words or so, and I ask them to make these full stops last around 1-2 seconds, the result is that either they are NOT inserting a single full stop, or that these full stops last 0.5 seconds is the best of cases. When I tell them this, they say it’s impossible, for them it’s been like those full stops were extremely long.
So, you can see that one thing is how we think we talk, and another one is reality.Why don’t you come to one of the Crutch Practice sessions? https://worldstopstuttering.org/crutch-practice-group/ You can learn a lot from these. You will see how other PWS/PWSS use them, learn from them…
We also have a video course dedicated to the Crutches: https://worldstopstuttering.org/courses/crutch-mastery-series/
These 2 are included in the Stuttering Plan membership.
And of course, private coaching will help you tremendously too.
I hope to see you at the SAM meetings, or if your time allows, in one of the Crutch Practice sessions that I host 🙂
Have a great weekend!
November 25, 2021 at 10:59 am in reply to: Hello from Croatia! I hope to see you here next summer:) #30722JavierModeratorHi Tino! I’m Javier, I live in Madrid (Spain), and I’m a PWSS and one of the Certified Speech Coaches of WSSA. I’m so glad to hear that you’re finding our program helpful.
Like John said, the videos of coaching sessions are pretty much like being coached by one of us. And you can use the filters to search the most appropiate ones for you.
Do watch the video lessons, they will help you too, as well as attending to some of the Crutch Practice sessions to practice them in groups of not more than 5 people. You will also learn a lot from the others.
The SAM meetings (now, on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of every month at 12h NY time) are also great: you can learn from other PWSS and how they stop stuttering, you can ask questions, and they are very motivational.
And finally, receiving private coaching will accelerate the process of becoming a PWSS and learning to love to speak in all venues.Keep us posted with your progress, and we look forward to seeing you at SAM or the Crutch Practice Sessions (BTW, John’s sessions are very popular, for example: https://worldstopstuttering.org/crutch-practice-group/)
JavierModeratorHi Jason!
Welcome to WSSA, first of all 🙂My name is Javier, I live in Spain, and I am a PWSS and one of the Certified Speech Coaches of WSSA.
I’m going to answer your questions below, but before I do so, I would like to say that every time Lee releases an updated version of his book (the latest one, the 4th Edition, is titled “How To Stop Stuttering & Love Speaking”, available on Amazon) his explanations about the Crutches and the rest of the program improve significantly. Having said so:
1) on the free 3 session coaching -do we get to choose when and who we wish to be coached?
No, WSSA assigns you a Coach based on your time zone, location, and the availability of the coaches.2) Crutches -of the 12(13) crutches, which two are easiest, and which two are hardest to learn?
Good question. I guess it depends on the student. But probably these would be Crutches 4 and 11.
The reason I chose these two is because, for C-4 you need to really make sure you like the sound or introductory word to the feared word. You must not leave “spaces”. Some PWS need to practice this a bit with a coach or PWSS to really master it.
About C-11, it is a Crutch that has multiple steps, and you need to master each one, especially the ones about slowing down and inserting full stops every few words. Most PWS are not used to insert full stops every few words. All their lives they havce been trying to rush through their words and say what they need to say as quickly as possible, but this actually makes things worse. So they believe that if they insert full stops every few words, they might stutter even more. It’s actually the opposite. And if I ask them to make these full stops, for example, 2 seconds long, 99% of the times these pauses last , in the best of cases, 0.5 seconds. They are not used to this. So it requires practice. The best way to show and explain these Crutches is through example.3) Crutches (again) -just reading the book, which ones are hardest to illustrate without a video?
I think I have already answered it already, in Q-2.
Jason, I hope this answers all your questions. If not, please do let me know.
JavierModeratorHi Daniel! Welcome to WSSA! I’m so glad to know that you have joined us and to see that you seem to be taking this seriously. Awesome!
Some tips:
* Make stop stuttering your #1, above anything else.
* Use the Crutches every time you talk, even if you don’t need them to speak fluently. See it as training. You need to practice to master them, and therefore use them more easily when needed.
* Mind training. Give yourself at least 2 daily mind training treatments daily, like Lee suggests in his books. It might take you a while until you start feeling the effects of these treatments, but they do show up. It works. It took me around 2-4 weeks to feel the effects of my self-hypnosis treatments, for example.
* Read aloud at least 1h/day. Do it slowly, without rushing, passionately, like a storyteller would do, and use the Crutches too. You must hear fluency in massive amounts (and not dysfluency) to stop stuttering. That is why reading aloud and speaking in your stutter-free zones is so important.Come to the SAM meetings and the Crutch Practice Sessions, they will surely help you!
I can’t give you any more specific advice until we meet and I hear you speak (hopefully very soon).
If you have any questions, let me know.
We look forward to hearing about your progress!!
JavierModeratorHi Kristi. The SAM meetings last 1 hour, although if you come 30 minutes earlier, we will be in a kind of hang-out and you can talk with us, including Lee Lovett, in a more informal environment. I highly recommend it.
About the book, the second edition is from 2017-2018, I’m not sure now. I recommend you to AT LEAST read the 3rd edition (available on WSSA in the Stuttering membership), which is 250 pages longer, and x2 as better. A few weeks ago, Lee released the 4th Edition of this book, which is an even better and improved version. Currently, this book is only available on Amazon:
The thing is, we are continuously learning and improving our methods, that is why we keep updating this manual to stop stuttering.
I hope to see you on Saturday!
JavierModeratorHi Kristi!! Welcome to WSSA! My name is Javier, I live in Spain, and I’m one of the Certified Speech Coaches of WSSA. I totally understand you. I can’t tell how many times I avoided talking, reading aloud, interacting with other people, etc. But not any more. You can stop stuttering, just like I and many others have done.
And you can do the same! Our methods work, as you can see from our Success Stories, the +1500 videos of coaching sessions, and even if you attend, for example, to this Saturday’s SAM meeting (10am NY time). You can find more about how to attend to these meetings if you click on “Community” and then to “Speech & social Club”, or simply using this link: https://worldstopstuttering.org/speech-club/.
It’d be great to see you there this Saturday!Have you already read Lee’s book, “How To Stop Stuttering & Love Speaking”? Note that this is the latest edition, the 4th one, released only a few weeks ago, of his “Stuttering & Anxiety Self-cures” book.
JavierModeratoryou’re welcome!! I hope to see you this Saturday at the SAM meeting!
JavierModeratorHi Abdulrahman!
yes, I did. I could feel the tension building up all over the muscles of my neck, and the feeling that I’m running out of air. I would even feel that tension in my chest. It was exhausting.
That’s part of speech anxiety. Some suggestions that come to my mind: holding the tone, start smiling before speaking, speak in a softer voice. Even sing or humm some of your words, especially at the beginning of sentences, insert full stops every 1-3 words or so.
All these things should help you succeed at speaking fluently and smoothly. The more “victories” you get, the less pressure you’ll feel the next time you speak in a similar situation, until one day you’ll notice that the tension and pressure are gone. It takes time and many victories, but you can do it!I hope you find this helpful.
JavierModeratorGood morning Dilan! Tanks for your kind words. You can also do it! Many people have done it already, and they are no different from you, so there’s no reason to believe that you can’t.
Start working on the 1-2-3 punch (read aloud massively, do multiple mind training treatments daily and use the Crutches as much as possible, even when not needed), and you’ll see how your speech improves every week.
I look forward to seeing you today at the SAM meeting!JavierModeratorHey Dilan, it’s me again. I almost forgot to mention one thing. In a lot of our coaching sessions we work on job interviews, we drill them, we give tips and many more things. If you to to the “Videos” Section of WSSA, you’ll find a search filter that is precisely “Job interviews”, and there’s another one named “Stuttering at work”. Check them out, I’m sure you’ll find very useful videos of coaching sessions too!
JavierModeratorHi Dilan,
first of all, welcome to WSSA! My name is Javier, I live in Madrid (Spain) and I’m one of the Certified Speech Coaches here. My bachelors is in Economics, but I have a lot of students who are engineers (and a lot of them in computer science, actually). We also have a bunch of medical doctors and people with PhDs.
I don’t know if you’ve been able to watch my before-after video, shown in the homepage of this website (if you scroll down a bit, until you see 6 videos; I appear in the 3rd one). If you watch it, you’ll also see that I used to be a very severe PWS. And I fully agree with what Lee says in his book: don’t disclose your stutter.
My personal opinion is that the rest of the world doesn’t know anything about stuttering, they don’t understand it. And, wether we like it or not, when we stutter, we make the listeners feel awkward and uncomfortable too. You’ve seen their faces, and how they look away, pretending nothing’s happening, everytime we get stuck on a word. It’s unpleasant for us, sure, but they also feel our suffering. So, if an employer sees your resume and sees that you’re someone who stutters, most likely they will reject your resume, unless you have some extraordinary background. Whereas, if you don’t say it, well you’ll have more chances of getting that interview. And when you’re in that interview, let your speech talk by itself. I think that the chances of getting hired are higher this way….But let me tell you something (although I’m sure you know it already): you can stop stuttering. I have never talked to you, so I don’t know how you sound like, I can’t give you any specific advice for you, but a lot of people have become PWSS, and some of them have been very severe cases (I include myself in this group, although there have been worse cases than mine too).
I don’t know how long it will take you. That depends on you, on your work ethics, your diligence. Some severe PWs have been able to stop stuttering faster than milder cases, because they’re more desperate to stop stuttering, and will work harder than the milder cases!Have you started the video courses of the Stuttering book and Crutch Mastery Series? (https://worldstopstuttering.org/courses/)
Are you attending to Crutch Practice sessions (https://worldstopstuttering.org/crutch-practice-group/) and SAM meetings (https://worldstopstuttering.org/speech-club/)? In these meetings you can practice our methods, see how others do it and learn from them. WSSA is also a support group, and we like to help each other achieve fluency and learn to love to speak!
Are you watching videos of our coaching sessions? (https://worldstopstuttering.org/videos) There are several search filters that will help you the most appropriate videos for you. The advice the coach gives in those coaching sessions will surely help you too. When I was a PWS, I used to watch one of these sessions almost every day.
Are you receiving coaching? Obviously, this would accelerate the process.
Are you reading aloud and doing mind training treatments every day? And using the Crutches as much as possible.
If you’re a Free Trial Member, you can get a free Q&A session with one of us and ask us anything regarding your speech and the program. And if you’re a Stuttering member, you have 3 free coaching sessions that will surely help you a great deal.
I hope to see you in one of my Crutch Practice Sessions (if your time allows, of course) and on Saturdays at 10am NY time at SAM!!
Have a great day, and let me know if you have any questions or comments!!
JavierModeratorHi Rajmohan,
let me ask them. The thing is that not all the hosts are Certified Speech Coaches, some of them are simply PWSS and do this voluntarily, but they have their lives and jobs, etc. Maybe they couldn’t make it yesterday for some reason. I’ll let you know as soon as I can.
Anyway, I’d recommend you to email the hosts before joining, just in case, to confirm that they will be there.
If you don’t know their email addresses, email me and I’ll share them with you.JavierModeratorHi Rajmohan! I’ve just emailed you another link. Try that one and let me know.
JavierModeratorHi Gábor! Fantastic! I hope you’ll enjoy this new book and find it useful!
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