Counseling for Stuttering

Counseling to treat stuttering is most common in teens and adults. This treatment can help manage problems that have developed as a result of stuttering, such as low self-esteem. Psychiatric counseling may be used alone or with speech therapy and is recommended when:

  • A mental health disorder, such as social anxiety, is suspected to be the primary cause of stuttering.
  • The person is not a good candidate for speech therapy because of a coexisting problem, such as severe depression.
  • Speech therapy has not improved stuttering.
  • A stuttering relapse occurs shortly after completing a speech therapy program.
By Healthwise Staff
Primary Medical Reviewer Susan C. Kim, MD - Pediatrics
Specialist Medical Reviewer Robert M. Kroll, BsC, MSc, PhD - Speech Pathology
Last Revised August 13, 2010

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