Stuttering: A Qualitative Point of View and Therapy

Isis Meira

This is a presentation of the Integrative-Existential Method, designed to be used in stuttering therapy. It engages the principles of human science, which incorporates the emerging scientific post-modern paradigm. This is a qualitative method which encompasses objectivity and subjectivity, emphasizing the dialectic view by integrating the polarities of world/human being, body/mind, physical/psychic, and stuttering/stutterer. This therapy employs two focal points: one directed to the stuttering itself which occurs through the systematic use of atypical muscular actions, either hypo- or hyper-tonus; the other is directed to the stutterer, dealing with his/her feelings and emotions related to stuttering.