The Illinois International Stuttering Research Program

CURRICULUM VITAE(January, 2007)

FRANCES COOK MSc,Reg MRCSLT, Cert. CT (Oxford) Reg UKCP (PCT)

The Michael Palin Centre for Stammering Children
Finsbury Health Centre
Pine Street London . EC1R 0LP
Tel: 020 7530 4238Fax: 020 7833 3842

Present Appointment:

Manager of the Michael Palin Centre for Stammering Children

Professional Qualifications:

Frances Cook has specialised in the field of stammering since 1974. In addition to the professional qualification as a Speech and Language Therapist, she is trained in behaviour modification strategies; she is registered with the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy in Personal Construct Psychology and was the first Speech and Language Therapist to gain a certificate in Cognitive Therapy in the UK.

From 1975, Frances worked closely with colleagues in Central London in developing specialist services for stammering children and their families in London. The Michael Palin Centre for Stammering Children was officially opened in 1993, it is now recognised as a centre of excellence in the assessment and treatment of stammering. Over 2000 children and adults have now been assessed and treated at the Centre with new families being referred at a rate of 250 – 300 a year. Therapy is provided individually and in groups, on a weekly or intensive basis. The highly specialist clinical team at the Centre has close clinical supervision and regular individual performance appraisals to ensure continuing professional development.

In addition to the tertiary clinical service, the specialist team at Michael Palin Centre delivers a rolling programme of specialist clinical training for professional speech and language therapists, and conducts a rapidly expanding programme of research into treatment effectiveness and the nature of stammering.

Awards and Recognitions:

In 2004, she was awarded the Clinician of Distinction Award by the International Fluency Association in Montreal, Canada. In 2005 she was appointed as an honorary research fellow in the Department of Psychology, University College London and awarded the honours of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists.

Send questions and comments to:
Dr. Nicoline Ambrose
Stuttering Research Program
The Department of Speech and Hearing Science
901 S. Sixth St.
Champaign, IL 61820
Phone:217-333-2230