How My Approach To Stammering Therapy Has Evolved

If you aren’t already aware, my father is a person who stammers and is one of my biggest inspirations. Growing up alongside him gave me early insight into both the challenges and the unique strengths that come with stammering. I saw how it can shape communication, confidence and self-expression, but also how resilience, creativity and empathy can grow in the same space.

When I first trained as a speech and language therapist in 2009, I was taught a range of traditional speech methods and techniques that focused on reducing or stopping stammering. These were useful in some ways, but over the years, I started to question things. If there is no cure for stammering, why are we working so hard at techniques to stop it? Why don’t these techniques work when people really need them? Are they helpful at all?

Over the years, some of biggest teachers have been people who stammer. Listening to their stories, therapy experiences and what has truly helped or harmed them has shaped my practice and continues to do so. I take pride in thinking carefully about therapy goals and how I can support someone to live well with stammering. I tailor every session to what a person needs rather than providing the same sessions to everyone. By working independently, I use my time to keep up to date with the latest evidence base and I am constantly growing and evolving my practice to ensure I am providing the very best care to the people I work with.

I strongly believe stammering is NOT something that is broken or needs correcting. Stammering is a neurological difference and a valid way of speaking. There is no technique or approach that can guarantee fluent speech. Often, what makes stammering difficult is not the stammer itself, but how it is viewed and responded to by others, along with shame that people who stammer may experience and understandably, internalise over time.


I work within a neurodiversity-affirming, acceptance-based framework grounded in the social model of disability. From this perspective, the focus is on identifying and reducing barriers that people who stammer may face. My aim to support people to build confidence, self-trust and autonomy in their communication, whilst recognising the importance of wider societal change and greater acceptance of stammered voices. This isn’t to say I never work on the stammer itself; if a person is experiencing a lot of physical tension and struggle when talking, there are lots of ways I can support them to access easier and more comfortable ways to speak.

Therapy is a space for exploration and understanding. It can involve learning about how stammering works in the body and mind, developing ways to reduce physical tension and finding new ways to approach speaking situations that feel challenging. I see therapy as a partnership, we decide together what to focus on and why. For parents, this may include learning how to support your child’s communication confidence from the very beginning. For adults, it may include unlearning years of pressure and fear around speaking. For everyone, it includes feeling heard and understood and discovering that stammering does not have to limit participation, connection or self-expression.

I continue to learn and evolve my practice by combining research, training and the lived experiences of people who stammer. I believe that therapy should always be collaborative, respectful and focused on building confidence, authenticity and meaningful communication.

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