::About Us::

We approach the task as one would learn a musical instrument or a skilled sport where one must first learn the proper techniques, then drill these so these become automatic. In the sport of speaking the "technique" is to correct the physical struggle by retraining the diaphragm, vocal cords and articulators.

Once the technique is learned and drilled, as any competitive athlete or musician must do, one must also learn to concentrate so that the new techniques will hold up under pressure—for the person who stutters, it is learning to concentrate in the face of fear. There also has to be a way to reduce this fear, which we do through non-avoidance and desensitization techniques.

Our style, which reflects our philosophy, can also be described as "tough love". We are compassionate, and we understand (and have felt) the fear, shame and self-hate. But we also understand and confront those psychological mechanisms (denial, intellectualization, externalization, etc.) that result in a return to the tricks and avoidances of uncontrolled stuttering.

Goals and Objectives

Our main goal is to help you become an eloquent speaker rather than simply a "non-stutterer". It is the difference between an athlete who plays not to lose and one who plays to win. To do this we have four objectives:

Physically, the objective is to retrain the three areas of physical blocking, diaphragm, vocal cords, articulators, to function smoothly while speaking.

Mentally, there are six objectives:

1. To understand the dynamics of stuttering.

2. To counteract the tendency to "hold-back" and use avoidance mechanisms.

3. To deal with the fear through concentration and non-avoidance techniques.

4. To accept yourself as a recovering stutterer until you have proven yourself "a fluent speaker with occasional reminders of your past affliction."

5. To develop an assertive attitude to attack your remaining feared situations.

6. To understand the process of relapse and how to counteract it.

Emotionally, once you have dealt with the fear, the objective is to let go and have fun speaking.

Spiritually, the objective is self-actualization. Once your verbal self is set free, who will be doing the talking? Are you the person you want to be? This positive internal change – beliefs, intentions, perceptions, etc.– is necessary to keep improving at this sport of speaking.