San Francisco Course Report - June 8th - 11th
This was the first US West Coast course in quite awhile with some of
the experienced US graduates attending a course in a number of
years. It was my pleasure to work with them and appreciated the
efforts and welcoming approach that they took with the new students.
As most of us know a McGuire course is unlike any other experience.
The four day experience is a win/win from the instructors all the
way down to the new students. I know of no other stuttering program,
therapy or treatment that exists in which anyone who attends
experiences growth and life altering changes in just four days. The
gift to help others and at the same time progress your own recovery,
is a brilliant concept and rewarding for all.
Like all the other courses around the world this was another gem.
Brian P. did another great job leading from the front with his
talent for wrapping up sessions and bringing the concepts together.
The program's strength is the returning graduates the passion they
bring is so empowering that a shift in attitude is assured from the
new students.
The Thursday, Friday and Saturday mornings went to plan, my focus
for the new students was to prepare them for the public speeches on
Saturday, relying on the graduates to support them with there
willingness to lead from the front by presenting in front of the
group at every opportunity, the new grads watched in awe and jumped
right in at the chance to follow the old graduates.
The approach on this course was to place the new students under
pressure immediately by standing them up and getting them to speak
in front of the group and saying their names repeatedly.
The Saturday contacts and speeches went very well. San Francisco
Pier 39 is a great location for contacts and public speeches
hundreds of people to speak with and a large crowd watching the
speeches.
The Sunday we were privileged to have John Harrison share an hour
enlightening us on his brilliant concept "the stuttering hexagon".
It's always good to hear John speak and this time around I viewed
the Hexagon from another perspective.
I have included some short testimonials from some of the new
students and old grads from this course.
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My experience of the course: I have gone through a lot of speech
therapy, but the McGuire program is by far the most exciting and
promising of them all for two very good reasons: First, it deals
with the entire person, not just the mouth and speaking techniques.
Second, it is a program focused on enabling us to be totally who we
are in the realm of verbal expression.
This is much different from all the programs that focus on over-
controlling our already over controlled speech behavior. I remember
saying, after many months of practicing one of those courses, "I'd
rather stutter than continue with this very artificial way of
talking!"
In the McGuire course, we are encouraged to experience the freedom
to be who we really are... powerful, worthy, and assertive people.
It is just what I have always wanted.
-Rich
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"Attending my first McGuire Course was, without a doubt, one of the
most profound experiences of my life. It not only equips a person
who stutters with the tools and techniques needed to improve their
speech, it helps with stripping away all those old beliefs,
perceptions and fears. I especially found the direct involvement of
former graduates to be invaluable. They are the true strength of
the program."
-Mitch
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The course continues to evolve, and get better every time! I've
never seen so many new students do so many contacts.
-Tom
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A great course in a great city! Doing contacts on "Pier 39" and at
Fisherman's Wharf was excellent. Having John Harrison wrap up
Sunday with his take on the Hexagon was also outstanding---every
time I hear about the Hexagon it makes more and more sense in my
daily life and the process of my own recovery.
Thanks again Junior for all your help. It was great to spend time
with you!
-Brian
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I learned that "Breathing" can be so important. Even after the
course is over, I still follow the techniques while talking to
coworkers, friends as well as my wife. The "voluntary stuttering"
and "public speaking" exercise also made me a little bold (after
speaking to strangers in fisherman's wharf). You, Brian and other
graduates have a genuine interest in helping people.
Overall very good experience!
Thanks
-Akshaya
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Thanks to all who came and participated, you are the ones who made
this course very successful and fun.
Keep moving forward.
Junior
