Henry Kessler
Plainsboro, New York

While it was always a struggle, I never let my stuttering stop me as I went through school and started on my career path. Yet, I always felt like I paid a price for each of my accomplishments. That price meant dealing with immense fear, anxiety, and stress every time I needed to communicate.

When I started working after business school, I realized how important strong communication skills were to my future. To advance in my field, I needed to master public speaking and effortlessly give presentations, participate in meetings and talk on the phone.

Since childhood, I have participated in different types of speech therapy and even tried using a special device designed to help with stuttering. None of the approaches helped with my fluency.

Then I was told about HCRI by a senior executive from my company who took a special interest in my career development. She knew of a colleague who had tremendous success with the Hollins program and put me in touch with him. Soon thereafter, I went to Roanoke and participated in the program. It was the first time any speech therapy had worked. At HCRI, I learned techniques and exercises that enabled me to speak fluently.

Since attending the program, my fear and anxiety from stuttering have been replaced with enjoyment and anticipation. I’ve advanced to a new position with my company and now look forward to presenting in front of groups and talking with business associates.

While I didn’t recognize doors being closed before I went to HCRI, now I definitely see them opening.

Anthony Sturges
Aurora, Colorado

Participating in the HCRI therapy program gave me more confidence and enabled me to take on leadership roles in my academic career that I never before would have considered.

When I was a teacher, I could control the environment in my classroom and create structure that helped with my speech. Yet, once I became a school administrator, things changed and my stuttering was increasingly interfering with daily tasks. I was not comfortable doing presentations, speaking up in meetings or talking on the telephone.

That’s when I decided to enroll in the HCRI program. The therapy was hard work. Yet, I learned how to control my stuttering. My fluency continued to improve with each day of treatment.

Since stuttering is a journey that continues through life, I realized when I returned home that I needed to regularly practice the breathing, articulating and other skills I learned at Hollins to maintain my fluency.

Soon after attending HCRI, I landed a new job with greater responsibility. With practice and smooth speech, I have more self-assurance than ever before and can comfortably talk in front of people whenever the need arises.

Shannon Armes
Wilsons, Virginia

Throughout my life, my stuttering eroded my confidence and served as a constant barrier during school, at work and in social settings.
When I graduated from college a few years ago, I knew I needed to make fluency a priority in my life if I was going to achieve my full potential.

I worked as an administrative assistant at DuPont at that time and wanted to position myself for greater responsibility with the company. So I looked into a variety of different stuttering therapy programs and enrolled in HCRI’s fluency program because I discovered the therapy is designed to work in the real world – and that’s exactly what I needed.

HCRI's fluency program was intensive. I spent 100 hours over 12 days retraining my speech muscles and acquiring skills to speak fluently. By the end of therapy, I was able to control my stuttering for the first time in my life.

When I returned to work with my new fluency skills, I was approached by management to serve as co-chair of the Spruance Women’s Network. The network is an organization dedicated to collaboration, community service and outreach. With new found confidence, I seized the opportunity!

The new role required me to speak in front of management and staff on a regular basis. I would have never been able to do that before going through HCRI's fluency program. Now I consider public speaking opportunities a chance to put my fluency skills to the test and help make a difference in the lives of others.

Learning to speak fluently whenever and wherever I choose has changed my life. I have since joined Toastmasters, received a promotion with DuPont, and taken on greater responsibilities – at work and as a community volunteer. I also help HCRI by leading phone practice groups and workshops. Maintaining fluency takes daily practice. Yet, my ability to speak fluently has made a remarkable difference in my life.