Find out about therapies and courses available for adults who stammer.
Are you looking for help with stammering (also known as stuttering)? Before reading on, take a look at Help For Your Stammer. It has tips for things you can do to support yourself.
If you'd like extra help, there's a list of options below. There isn't 'one' solution that's a perfect fit for everyone. For many it's a journey, which might include trying different approaches along the way. If you want more detail on what each one involves, see Adult Options Explained. Or chat with us — call our free helpline on 0808 802 0002 or start a webchat.
Please note: approaches below might use language that some people may object to. For instance "We can help overcome stammering". Depending on your viewpoint, discretion is advised. See the 'Things to watch out for' header.
On this page:
One-to-one speech & language therapy
Speech & language therapy group courses
Other courses
Things to watch out for
Getting your service listed
ONE-TO-ONE SPEECH & LANGUAGE THERAPY
NHS therapy
You can get stammering therapy for free through the NHS. This is usually one-to-one therapy with a qualified speech & language therapist.
In most places you can contact services yourself to make an appointment. Search online for 'Adult NHS stammering therapy (+ your local town/city)' to get contact details. Or, we can help you with this. Phone our free helpline on 0808 802 0002 or start a webchat. You could also ask your doctor or health visitor to refer you.
Note: levels of service and waiting times can vary.
No local NHS service?
You might find that there's no NHS service where you live. If this is the case, you could try asking your GP to fund one of the alternative options listed below. Note that these requests are only occasionally successful.
Private therapy
Private speech & language therapy is another option, but it's not free.
Find a qualified private therapist near you. Search on the Association for Speech & Language Therapists in Independent Practice website. Or email office@asltip.com Make sure to ask therapists if they have worked with adults who stammer before.
Sessions with a private therapist vary but may range between £70 and £125. This depends on the therapist's experience, what's included, or on regional variation. The first session is likely to be more expensive. This is because they'll spend extra time gathering information.
SPEECH & LANGUAGE THERAPY GROUP COURSES
These are courses run by qualified therapists for groups of people. They can be intensive, with sessions lasting four or five days, or non-intensive, eg 2 hours a week.
City Lit
City Lit is an adult education centre in London that offers group therapy courses. Some of the courses include:
- Block Modification, to reduce the struggle to speak.
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, to help with negative thoughts.
See Adult Options Explained to find out more about these types of therapy. City Lit also runs courses on public speaking and speaking circles for adults who stammer.
Do I have to pay? Yes, although concessions and bursaries are available. Visit the City Lit website for course details and costs.
Contact: email speechtherapy@citylit.ac.uk or phone 020 7492 2578.
Read more about City Lit courses.
City University — Stammering Intensive Courses (age 18 or under only)
If you're 18, The Roberta Williams Speech & Language Therapy Centre, at City University in London, is an option. Its courses focus on helping 8 to 18-year-olds to:
- reduce negative feelings connected to stammering
- develop communication skills
- build confidence in social situations and giving presentations.
Do I have to pay? Yes. Visit the City University website for course details and costs.
Contact: email stammeringintensive@city.ac.uk
Read more about City University courses.
OTHER COURSES
Below are some alternative options to speech & language therapy. These are courses run by people who have been on them and found them helpful, rather than therapists.
The McGuire Programme
The McGuire Programme runs 3- or 4-day courses across the UK. It supports adults who stammer by teaching and practising a technique. They combine this with:
- relaxation exercises
- mental strategies.
It says its aims are to help deal with the fear of stammering and develop an assertive attitude to it. Also that its goal is eloquence rather than fluency. See Adult Options Explained for details about techniques taught on this course.
Do I have to pay? Yes. Paying once entitles you to attend as many courses as you want. Visit The McGuire Programme website for course details and costs.
Contact: via their website or email web@mcguireprogramme.com
Read more about The McGuire Programme.
The Starfish Project
The Starfish Project runs 3-day courses in Eastbourne. It supports adults who stammer by teaching and practising a technique. They combine this with:
- reducing avoidance
- increasing confidence
- developing a positive attitude.
See Adult Options Explained for details about techniques taught on this course.
Do I have to pay? Yes. The cost includes free lifetime support and refresher courses. Visit The Starfish Project website for course details and costs.
Contact: email mail@starfishproject.co.uk or phone 01825 872038.
Read more about The Starfish Project.
The Stammering Self-empowerment Programme
This is a free module-based online course that teaches two fluency enhancing methods. It's designed to help develop a deeper understanding of stammering and what affects it. Academic Paul Brocklehurst, its founder, has carried out extensive research into stammering.
Do I have to pay? No, it's free. Visit The Stammering Self-empowerment Programme website to find out more.
THINGS TO WATCH OUT FOR
Above are the main stammering therapies and courses for adults in the UK. Some might use language that could be seen as biased and non-neutral. For example, they might refer to stammering as an affliction or misfortune. Some people argue that describing stammering in this way adds to the stigma, while others don't.
You might come across other approaches online that aren't on our list. To safeguard against untested or unqualified providers, we recommend choosing one which:
- offers realistic expectations of change and NOT an offer of a cure or a way of 'stopping' stammering
- provides clear and unambiguous information about what it does and how much it costs. Also, how long it is and the commitment needed
- recognises the need to accept one's stammer at some level, to help speech and/or a change in attitude
- is nationally recognised as supporting people who stammer to communicate confidently. We judge this based on an organisation's track record, a considerable body of independent user reviews and good feedback.
GETTING YOUR SERVICE LISTED
If you have a service or course you'd like us to include here, see How To Get Your Service Listed.
DISCLAIMER
Courses, therapy providers and tools listed here are reviewed intermittently by the STAMMA Service Panel. Inclusion on the website does not indicate endorsement by STAMMA. It simply indicates that those listed have met the basic criteria for inclusion. Details of courses and therapy is for information purposes only. This information is not advice and should not be treated as such.
Through this page you can link to other websites that are not controlled by STAMMA. We bear no responsibility for the accuracy, content or nature of these sites. This includes any language used to describe or refer to stammering.