International Stuttering Awareness Day is a moment to celebrate the voices, stories, and resilience of people who stutter, and to remind everyone that the best support combines skilled therapy with genuine human connection. At iRehab Services, we pride ourselves on forming strong, trusting relationships with our patients so therapy becomes meaningful, practical, and empowering, whether sessions happen in person or via telehealth.

Our philosophy: people before fluency

We believe treatment should be about more than reducing symptoms on paper. Therapy must support real-life participation, such as talking with friends, answering questions in class, leading meetings, ordering at a restaurant, or sharing stories at home. That means our goals are functional and person-centered: increasing confidence, reducing avoidance, improving communication effectiveness, and helping families and workplaces be supportive partners in progress.

How we assess and plan

Every therapy journey at iRehab Services starts with a comprehensive, compassionate assessment:

• Detailed speech sampling across different speaking situations
• A conversation about how stuttering affects school, work, social life, and emotional well-being
• Family/caregiver interview and observation (for children)
• Identification of co-occurring factors (language differences, sensory needs, anxiety, etc.)

From there, we co-create a plan that blends evidence-based techniques with the patient’s personal priorities.

Therapy approaches we use

Our SLPs specialize in a range of approaches and tailor them to each person’s needs and goals, often combining elements for the best functional outcome:

• Stuttering-modification strategies (to reduce struggle and make moments of stuttering easier)
• Fluency-shaping techniques (to build steady speaking patterns when appropriate)
• Cognitive-behavioral and counseling-informed supports to address anxiety or avoidance
• Parent coaching and family-based strategies so children can practice in supportive home routines
• Real-world practice (role plays, simulated conversations, and community outings) to ensure skills transfer outside the clinic

We emphasize collaboration, so patients learn to choose strategies that feel authentic and comfortable for them.

What sessions look like:

• For young children: play-based activities, parent coaching on supportive turn-taking and modeling, short practice in everyday routines (bath time, mealtime, story time).
• For school-age kids: strategies for managing school participation, teacher consults, classroom-based supports, and graded exposure to speaking situations.
• For teens & adults: skill-building for presentations, job interviews, phone calls; counseling for self-confidence; practical strategies for workplace communication.
• For families and partners: education about stuttering, coaching on how to respond in ways that reduce pressure and promote conversation.

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Telehealth or in person — both work, and we’ll help you choose

We offer both telehealth and in-person therapy, and both formats have strong advantages:

Telehealth

• Lets therapy happen in the place where communication actually occurs: home, classroom, or workplace.
• Makes caregiver coaching seamless (we can observe routines live).
• Can feel safer and more comfortable for people who feel anxious in new environments.
• Allows flexible scheduling and reduces travel barriers.

In-person

• Great for hands-on coaching, group therapy, or community-based practice sessions.
• Allows face-to-face interaction that some patients prefer for certain goals.

Our clinicians will recommend the best format (or a blended approach) based on the individual’s needs and goals.

Practical tips you can try today

• Slow the pace of family conversations and create calm listening time rather than quick-fire questioning.
• Praise the content of speech (“Thanks for telling me about your day”) rather than focusing on fluency.
• Create low-pressure practice: read a short paragraph aloud together, practice talking on familiar topics, or try a short video-recorded practice to review later.
• Encourage safe self-disclosure for adults and teens (e.g., “I stutter, thanks for listening”) when comfortable.
• Seek supportive environments for graded exposure (small groups, trusted friends) before larger public speaking.

When to reach out

Consider a consultation if stuttering is interfering with everyday life…school participation, job performance, friendships, or family interactions, or if emotional distress (anxiety, avoidance, or sadness) is present. Early support for children and timely help for adolescents and adults both make meaningful differences.

Start the conversation

If you or someone you love stutters, you don’t have to navigate it alone. Our SLPs build individualized plans grounded in compassion, clinical expertise, and real-world practice, delivered either in person or through telehealth.

Call 248.252.6064 or email marcia@irehabservices.com to schedule a consultation or learn more about our stuttering services.