The Roberta Williams Centre, at City St George's University of London, offers courses and free therapy for young people who stammer.
It offers:
- intensive group therapy courses for ages 13 to 17
- free one-to-one therapy sessions for ages 18-25 (click link to jump to the details)
Intensive group course (ages 13-17)
What does it do?
The 5-day group course for ages 13 to 17 doesn't focus on a young person's fluency of speech. Instead, it looks at helping them feel less bothered about stammering. This will help so it has less of an impact on their lives. They also work to develop communication skills and confidence in social situations or giving presentations.
Young people, this group may be for you if you are interested in:
- exploring ways to experience more effective and enjoyable communication
- increase your understanding of communication, speaking and stammering
- meeting other young people who stammer
- feeling less bothered by stammering
- exploring ways to stammer with less struggle and tension
- developing greater awareness of your communication strengths and skills
- practising communication/speaking goals that are important for you in your life
- build more resiliency around communication.
What happens on a course?
Courses are in groups and focus on the aims above. Parents/carers are asked to attend a workshop for one of the days during the course so that they can find out more about it and the nature of stammering.
On the final afternoon, parents/carers/other family members are invited to attend a presentation by the young people. After this presentation, there is an opportunity to discuss their child’s progress.
Who delivers the course?
Each group is run by an experienced Speech and Language Therapist (SLT), with the support of SLT students from City St George's University of London.
When and where are courses held?
Courses are held during school holidays in July at City St George's University of London.
How much does it cost?
Courses cost £150. Some places are funded by Action for Stammering Children. Contact them for more details (see below).
Where can I find out more?
Visit their website.
Phone: 020 7040 0150
Email: stammeringintensive@city.ac.uk
One-to-one therapy sessions (ages 18-25)
The Roberta Williams Centre at City St George's University also runs free one-to-one speech and language therapy sessions for ages 18 to 25.
This is provided by speech and language therapy students who are studying at the university. They'll be closely supervised by an experienced speech and language therapist. It's a chance for the students to learn and develop their skills while providing free therapy.
What does it do?
Rather than only working directly on speech, sessions look at ways to reduce the impact of stammering. They'll look at:
- Overt and covert aspects of stammering, as well as avoidance.
- Stammering acceptance. It focuses on the challenges you might be facing such as uni studies, job interviews and identity.
- Block Modification therapy, to reduce the struggle involved in speaking.
- Reducing difficult thoughts and feelings you might experience. Acceptance & Commitment Therapy and Mindfulness will be used to help with this.
(See Adult Stammering Options Explained to find out more about these types of therapy.)
How are sessions given?
The service is based at the Roberta Williams Centre, at City St George's University of London. If you live in or near London, you can attend in-person, and the therapy room has a 'non-clinical' feel.
If you don't live in London you can access the sessions online via videocall.
How long will therapy run for?
Sessions are weekly and will be agreed with you. It's likely to be 11 to 22 sessions depending on need. These will run during the academic year, starting during the autumn term. If you join the service at the start of the academic year, you can get the whole 22 sessions. If you start later there will be fewer sessions.
Do you have to pay?
No, the therapy is free.
How to find out more and apply
Email rwcstammering@city.ac.uk for full details.
There'll be an assessment appointment where you can speak with the team to see if the sessions are right for you.
