commentr/StutterFebruary 14, 2026

Content

I didn't think speech therapy in school was effective. The speech therapists had big case loads and I don't think they were prepared for my chronic stuttering style. Last March I started seeing a speech language pathologist who focuses on overall wellness. I have experienced many benefits from working with her. She teaches breathing classes which I have attended and she also incorporates that into her speech therapy. The approach is less "How can we fix your stutter" and more "How can I help you cope with living with a stutter." Some of it is just talking through the situations and feelings that are unique to speech disorders. It is therapy, after all. I've had more success practicing reading aloud techniques and other exercises than focusing on stuttering in the real social moment. I think right now I am thinking about it too much. My stutter is worse when there is a heavy cognitive load, such as explaining something to someone. Thinking about my stutter adds a huge cognitive load that is too much to process and speak at the same time. I find that I speak best when I focus on the words and the connections of the communication. Sometimes my brain is too twisty and busy and loud and nothing works, unfortunately.

Themes

Therapy & ProfessionalCoping & AdvocacyAnticipation & Avoidance

Subthemes

Therapy ExperiencesMindfulness & BreathingPositive Therapy TechniquesOverthinking & Monitoring