Important Things to Do Before and After Stuttering Therapy
Stammering (stuttering) is not just a speech issue. It is a complicated mix of speech, thoughts, feelings, confidence, the environment, and how people react to each other. Therapy for stammering is not magic, instant, or mechanical because of this.
It’s very important to get ready mentally, emotionally, practically, and financially before, during, and after therapy, whether you plan to go to a therapy centre, a stammering centre, a support group, or a national conference.
The following is a full and honest list of the steps that every Person Who Stammers (PWS) should take.
- Time Commitment: The Key to Therapy Success
The first and most important thing to do is to take your time.
There is no quick fix or miracle method for stammering. It’s not a trick; it’s an art. Stuttering therapy is like learning to play an instrument, paint, or meditate in that it takes time, patience, and practice.
Why Time Matters So Much
If you go to therapy and always think about:
Work in an office
Pressure from school or college
Tests
Responsibilities at home
Deadlines
Calls on the phone
Your mind won’t be fully there, though.
You don’t really learn when your body is in therapy but your mind is at home or at work.
What You Should Do
Take the right amount of time off from work, school, or college.
Accept in your mind that this time is just for you.
Don’t hurry through it.
Follow the organizer’s or therapist’s suggested time frame.
Finally, say honestly, “I’m willing to give it more time if needed.”
Keep in mind that improvement in stammering takes time, not all at once.
- Trust and mental focus—learning with a clear mind
The harsh truth is this:
People who stammer are usually:
Afraid
Shy
Hurt emotionally
Doubting yourself all the time
Because they have been embarrassed, rejected, and made fun of for years, many people with PWS don’t trust anyone, not even themselves.
The Internal Struggle During Therapy
When a PWS learns a new skill, their mind keeps asking:
“Will this work for me?”
“Is this method really helpful?”
“What if I fail again?”
This doubt all the time stops learning.
The Worst Thing About Therapy
Cell phones
Messages and calls
Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram are all social media sites.
Thoughts of home
Concerns regarding examinations or finances
Thinking about friends
Many PWS waste their mental energy on things that don’t matter and put therapy learning at the bottom of their list of things to do.
What Needs to Be Done
Make learning your top priority
Turn off things that are distracting you mentally.
Pay full attention when learning any skill.
Practice with trust, not doubt
Use techniques in real life
👉 Therapy only works when the mind is there.
- Money—Knowing the Truth About Good Therapy
Money is one of the most touchy and misunderstood parts of therapy.
Everyone wants:
Best amenities
Best results
Lowest prices
But this mix doesn’t really exist.
The Real Cost
If a centre is charging very little, you should ask yourself some serious questions:
How long has the therapist been working?
What kinds of facilities are there?
How much time is given each day?
Is there a place to stay?
Is therapy tailored to the individual or is it generic?
What You Should Look Up
Before you join any centre:
Look it up on Google
Look at more than one centre
Look:
Costs
Places to stay
What you learn
Experience
Requirements
Therapy hours every day
Hostel or place to stay
System of support
Therapy is worth the money if a centre charges more but really does provide good service.
👉 In the long run, cheap therapy can end up costing a lot.
- Figure out what kind of therapy it is: speech, psychological, or both.
This is a very important point.
A lot of therapists only offer speech therapy, like:
Talking slowly
Words that stretch
Taking control of your breath
But stuttering isn’t just a problem with speech.
Why Speech Therapy Alone Isn’t Enough
In the real world:
Fear grows
The pressure rises
People cut in
Feelings get stronger
And just speaking slowly doesn’t work under pressure.
The Six Important Steps to Help Stammering
A good centre should deal with most or all of these:
Speech Therapy—technical oversight
Psychological therapy helps people deal with fear and anxiety.
Meditation: Relaxing the nervous system
Medication (if needed) for stress or anxiety
Adjusters (optional) – things that help you feel more sure
Support Group: sharing experiences and getting motivated
A centre that follows these steps can be trusted and is good for the whole person.
- Get your family involved—don’t keep therapy a secret.
A lot of PWS go to therapy without telling their family. They think:
“I’ll tell them once I’m better.”
This is a very bad idea.
Why Family Support Is Important
If family doesn’t get involved:
You don’t have anyone to help you emotionally.
You are the only one who has financial stress.
The home environment doesn’t change.
After coming home, you don’t follow the rules of therapy.
So:
Time is lost
Money is thrown away
Work is wasted
What to Do
Let your family know before you join
Teach them about stuttering
Request cooperation
At home, follow the rules of therapy.
👉 To heal, you need a place that is supportive.
- Watch out for “seasonal experts”—the Rainy Frog Syndrome
A lot of people:
Go to a few sessions
Become a member of a support group
Go to one conference
…and all of a sudden call themselves experts on stammering.
The Risk
Knowledge that isn’t fully formed
Lies
Websites that haven’t been updated in a long time
People saying they have miracle cures
Some people even say:
“I am busy, but I will help you.”
This is very dangerous.
Keep the Warning in Mind
“Half-knowledge is more dangerous than not knowing.”
“Quack” is a warning bell.
Always check:
What’s going on right now
Actual work
Real reviews
Openness
- Don’t expect to be completely healed right away after therapy
Don’t go to therapy with the thought that
“I will be completely better when I come back.”
This expectation makes people angry.
Get the facts straight
Just like after an operation:
There is pain
It takes time to get better.
At home, care is needed.
In the same way:
Therapy is just the start.
The real work starts when you get home.
Daily practice is very important.
Application in real life is required
Things get better slowly, not all at once.
The Last Truth
Stammering therapy isn’t a one-time thing; it’s a process.
Success depends on:
Time
Focus
Believe
The right advice
Help from family
Practise all the time
👉 Therapy gives you direction. You make the change.