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A different approach to therapy First post on r/stutter! Hi everyone! A little about me, I’ve stuttered my entire life and as many of you know, it’s not easy. At the age of 21 I decided to join the Marine Corps as a Radio Operator. Not sure why I chose a communications MOS, probably to force myself into becoming fluent. I served for 4 years with one deployment. I HAD to speak over a radio net, knowing many were listening to the very technical information I had to pass. I could not avoid words or even replace them, it was tough but I made it. When I got out I requested to see a speech pathologist through the VA, they couldn’t provide the required services so they paid for a private therapist in the community to provide me with therapy. A week later my therapist gave me a call, i was nervous because she would be my first speech therapist ever. She explained that she approached the problem a little different from other therapist and explained the process. I have been seeing her ever since with great results! The therapy: She works with the muscles connected to the mouth, tongue, lips, any many more. Along with the muscles, she works to strengthen the tongue and the soft palate. Our first session, she tested the strength of my tongue and told me I had the strength of a toddler. As of now, I am at the correct levels. She also uses a VitalStim device, kind of like a “TENS” device, on the throat to help support some muscles during therapy and it feels amazing. My fluency and the perception of my stutter has improved greatly. I still have my bad days but that’s normal for anyone. Currently I work at an alternative high school for troubled teens and I’m a full time student too. Things have changed so much since I started seeing my therapist. I still have a long way to go, but I have made great progress. There’s so much more that goes on in therapy that I would like to share, but I am not a professional and do not want to misinform. My therapist is a certified SLP and she’s maintained her view that stuttering is a physical problem and not a mental problem. She’s been in the profession for over 40 years. Has anyone experienced the same type of therapy? I’ve done research and have found no one practicing the same methods for fluency.