A method developed by a psychologist to beat his own stammer has become established around the world as a programme for conquering speech difficulties, writes Sylvia Thompson.
Architectural technician Emmet O'Connell converses fluently and without hesitation on the phone as he explains how he has overcome his life-long problem of stammering. Two years ago such a conversation would have been extremely difficult, but now following completion of a stammerers coaching programme, he is giving press interviews such is his conviction for the techniques he has learned.
"Before I did the course, if the phone rang at home, I wouldn't answer it and in a work environment, I used to wait until the area around my desk was clear and then I'd speak really quietly," he says.
The coaching programme that O'Connell followed was developed in 1994 by Californian child psychologist, David McGuire to overcome his own stammer. The McGuire Programme has since become established in several countries around the world. Training sessions in the techniques began in Ireland in 1996.
The basic technique involves learning to follow a speaking cycle - which begins with a pause, followed by a full deep breath, then speaking at the top of this breath, followed by a release of all residual air in the lungs.
According to O'Connell, stammerers must also unlearn bad habits associated with stammering. "When we [ stammerers] go into situations, we always hold back and avoid eye contact with the person and then we usually bring all tension to our mouth, using facial contortions or clenching our fist to get the words out. On the programme, we pick people up on any old habits they have and we all learn to maintain eye contact and always to be aware of our listener," he says.
While on the McGuire training programme, stammerers must also make cold contact with people on the street, participate in a public speaking session and deliberately return to dysfluency so that they can really become comfortable with themselves. "It's not a magic pill. You have to work hard at it. It's the support you get from others that really makes it work," says O'Connell.
One recovered stammerer who completed the course six years ago, adds: "I found it fantastic. Of all the techniques I had used - including traditional speech therapy, the Schwartz airflow technique and other prolonged speech techniques, this was the one that effortlessly got me through stammering blocks."
Initially, those who sign up for the programme (at a cost of €1,100 for lifetime membership) attend a three-day intensive residential course, which is followed by free entry to weekly support group meetings for as long as they require. Each participant is also given contact numbers of "graduates" who are available for back-up support on an ongoing basis. All courses are run by recovering and recovered stammerers trained in the techniques. None of the trainers are qualified speech therapists.
McGuire Programme support groups exist in Belfast, Cork, Dublin, Galway, Kilkenny, Letterkenny, Limerick, Monaghan, Sligo and Waterford. A three-day intensive course of the McGuire Programme will be held in the Salthill hotel, Salthill, Galway from August 18th - 20th, tel: 074-9125781 or e-mail joeodonnell69@hotmail.com for details. See also www.mcguireprogramme.com and www.irishmcguireprog.com
