Is now the right time to start stammering therapy?

It’s a new year and, if you’re anything like me, you’ll be making all kinds of daft New Year’s resolutions that will be forgotten by Valentine’s Day.

In my experience of speaking to clients who stammer, it can be quite common to jump into therapy simply because it’s a new year and you want to “fix” it - much like deciding you’re going to drop a jeans size or give up wine on a Friday. We’re always happy to speak to new clients and start supporting your stammer when it feels right for you. But that’s the point of this blog. When is the right time?

Firstly, it’s important to think about your reasons for accessing therapy. Has something happened over Christmas, or have you been feeling anxious about starting and putting it off for a while? If accessing therapy is a snap decision based on something a family member has said, you may be looking for a quick fix. Unfortunately, that often leads to disappointment down the line.

Stammering therapy is usually a longer process. It can involve working with a professional on anxiety around social situations, beliefs and opinions about your talking, as well as more direct work on your stammer. These things take time and are often explored over months, with sessions spaced out in a way that suits you.

A “right time” for therapy isn’t about being ready to work hard to erase a stammer. Instead, it’s about being ready to reflect and make changes to your thinking patterns.

You might be ready for therapy if you notice that you’re stuck in negative thinking traps, avoiding situations because of your stammer, or you’re simply curious about stammering and everything it affects. Crucially, it also means being open to making changes over the longer term.

On the flip side, if you’re looking for a quick fix, have been told you need to go to therapy, or are doing it just because it’s January and that’s what people do, then now probably isn’t the right time. And that’s absolutely okay.

At The Stammer Space, we’re always happy to talk this through with you. We offer a free 20-minute telephone consultation where we can explore whether stammering therapy feels right for you at this point. Get in touch to discuss how we can help.