Avoidance Reduction Therapy for Stuttering (ARTS^®): From Conflict & Control to Comfort & Confidence

Webinar Description: Avoidance Reduction Therapy for Stuttering (ARTS®) is a stutter-affirming therapy approach that entails letting go of physical and socio-emotional struggle. “Open stuttering”, without life impact, remains. During this brief overview of ARTS, learners will be introduced to the philosophical framework of the approach, based in the psychology of conflict theory. Vivian will demonstrate how conflict maintains struggle (in speech, in thoughts, and emotionally), and how resolving conflict leads to ARTS outcomes including comfortable, confident, and spontaneous communication. While frequency of stuttering is not a consideration in therapy, increased fluency is often achieved as a byproduct of self-acceptance and minimal reactivity to stuttering.

Comfort and efficiency in the stuttering pattern evolves through guided reduction of learned behaviors that served to hide or distract from stuttering previously – during a time when stigma and fear of judgment led to concealment. Counseling themes support confidence and spontaneity in communication and include taking time to stutter authentically, taking space for joyful expression, and connection with honest self-representation. With conflict reduction, stutterers often report feeling free, competent, and empowered.

While time will not permit a complete discussion of the mechanics and practicalities of ARTS, topics will include the culture of ARTS, stutter-affirming assessment, and therapy goals with associated sample activities.

Speaker: Vivian Sisskin is a Clinical Professor Emerita at the University of Maryland, an ASHA Fellow, and Board-Certified Specialist in Stuttering, Cluttering, and Fluency Disorders. She received ASHA’s Media Champion Award for work in promoting public awareness of stuttering and the Stuttering Association of the Young (SAY) Budd Mayer Advocacy Award. She was named Speech-Language Pathologist of the Year by the National Stuttering Association. Sisskin is the creator of ARTS® (Avoidance Reduction Therapy for Stuttering), supporting goals for acceptance and change. Her articles and workshops include atypical disfluency, strategies for effective group therapy, and communication in autism. She directs the Sisskin Stuttering Center and presents her work both nationally and internationally.  She created the YouTube Channel “Open Stutter”, a resource promoting stutter-affirming values for stutterers and their allies

YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/openstutter

Instagram: @openstutter