Taking on free support and taming my stammer

Lauren tells her story of a person with a stammer who had the bravery to reach out to Empowering Voices to help tame her speech.

She has been determined to maintain the control she gained during the three-day intensive course. She has utilised all the support offered by Empowering Voices, including the free follow-up courses.

My first Empowering Voices course was in October 2024, so it was just over a year ago at the time of writing this. Over the last year, my speech fluidity has gone up, down and twirled in circles, but my confidence has skyrocketed.

After the first course, I was on cloud 9. I was so confident with my speech. I had gone from crying on the first day of the course to ordering food in the restaurant on the last night without issue. I knew how to use the technique to improve my speech; I knew it would take work, but I could say everything I wanted to say, even if it took a little longer.

My speech got slowly worse again as time went on, and I needed to remind myself to take a costal breath when I was stammering in conversations. Once I remembered again, I was golden. I had so much more fluidity!

Then I went to my second course, and it was as life-changing as my first. In the second course, you have more time to focus on the technique; in the first course, it's all nerves as everything is new.

During the second course, I felt so much more comfortable; I knew everyone was lovely and that I was in an environment where I felt safe. I focused more on the ins and outs of how my body reacted to using the technique, spoiler alert! You will be yawning... a lot!

Now, moving on from the second course, I'm just about to go to my third! I'm beyond excited to have a reminder of costal breathing and the Empowerment Tools we are taught during each course! Even as my speech improves, I will continue to go to the Empowering Voices courses whenever I can; it's the kindest and most inclusive group I have ever been a part of.