My stuttering didn’t bother me when I was a child. Though, my parents arranged for me to participate in speech therapy while I was in school. It wasn’t until I went away to college that I became more self-conscious and concerned about the impact stuttering was having on my life.

I continually worried about my ability to communicate and would go to great lengths to avoid situations where I would have to speak to others. When I began interviewing for jobs as college graduation approached, my stuttering became even more pronounced. As a result, I went for some therapy at a nearby university and found it to be a turning point.

Going through the treatment process enabled me to be open and honest about my stuttering problem instead of pretending like it didn’t exist. My speech improved and I landed a job that I liked.

Yet, the results of my earlier treatment didn’t last. A few years later, my stuttering became more prominent and I decided to go through the HCRI program. I chose Hollins because the institute specializes in the treatment of stuttering — and not other types of speech issues. I found HCRI’s approach more advanced and sophisticated. It has made real difference in my life.

Patrick Donahay
Mechanical Engineer
US Air Force