The Benefits of Working With a Speech Therapist and Communication Coach Who Stammers
In this post, we introduce one of our Associate team members, Amy, and share how her lived experience of stammering shapes her work with clients.
“In the first few minutes of meeting a new client, I sometimes notice my stammer more. I can hear it, feel it, and a little part of me wonders what the client is thinking. But that moment also reminds me why I do this work - because many of my clients feel exactly the same way.” - Amy
Challenging the idea of “perfect communication”
At TalkCoach, we don’t believe that confident communication means sounding perfectly fluent, polished and articulate.
We believe that real confidence comes from feeling like it’s okay to be yourself.
Confidence grows when you can express yourself in a way that feels authentic - when you stop trying to sound like someone else, and start trusting your own voice.
For our Associate Speech and Language Therapist and Communication Coach, Amy, that’s been a very personal journey - because she stammers.
A stammer isn’t something that can be ‘fixed’ or cured. In fact, attempts to hide or eliminate a stammer can lead to more pressure, making communication feel even more challenging. Instead, Amy has learnt to accept the way she naturally speaks and to feel confident even when her speech isn’t completely fluent.
That understanding is exactly what led her into helping others with their communication. Having experienced the frustration, self-consciousness, and eventual acceptance of her own communication, she brings deep empathy to others facing their own communication challenges. She chose to work in this area because she gets it - not just through professional training, but through lived experience.
Understanding what a stammer is
A stammer (sometimes called a stutter) is when the flow of speech is interrupted — you might hear a sound repeat (“b-b-because”), stretch (“ssssometimes”), or pause mid-word.
It can vary from day to day and is often more noticeable in high-pressure situations or when meeting someone new.
But it’s important to know that stammering isn’t caused by anxiety.
Anxiety can sometimes make a stammer more visible, but it isn’t the source.
If you notice Amy stammering more in a session, it doesn’t mean she’s nervous, unsure or inexperienced - it’s just how her speech naturally happens sometimes.
Lived experience that shapes how Amy supports others
What makes Amy’s perspective unique is that she’s experienced similar challenges that many of her clients face.
That means she understands:
what it’s like to worry how others might perceive you;
how much energy it can take to “mask” or hold it together;
what real progress feels like when communication starts to feel easier and more natural.
Her lived experience gives her an intuitive empathy for clients - whether they stammer, experience social anxiety, or feel less confident in conversations or social situations.
The benefits of working with a Speech Therapist/Communication Coach who stammers
If you stammer: Amy’s presence can be a powerful reminder that you don’t need to “fix” your speech to express yourself clearly or confidently. Having a stammer doesn’t make you a ‘bad communicator’ – in fact, Amy is proof that someone who stammers can be a communication specialist who helps others with their communication every day.
If you experience anxiety or overthinking in conversations: Amy understands those moments of self-consciousness and uses evidence-based coaching and therapy approaches to help you feel more grounded, connected and authentic when you speak.
If you’re a professional who wants to communicate more effectively at work: Amy knows that communication challenges don’t disappear in professional settings. She helps clients focus on clarity, connection and presence, rather than chasing perfection.
TalkCoach values in action
TalkCoach was founded on the belief that effective communication support goes beyond the surface - that confidence comes from addressing what’s underneath the words: mindset, emotions, and self-belief.
Every member of our team brings their own lived experience and strengths, and Amy’s stammer is a powerful expression of this philosophy.
Alongside her lived experience of stammering, Amy also has ADHD, which gives her a deep appreciation for the many ways our minds and communication styles can work.
She values helping clients find approaches that feel natural to them, rather than forcing strategies that don’t fit.
If you’d like to find out more about Amy, you can read her bio.
To work with Amy, follow the steps below.
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