How Coaching People Who Stutter Helps Me Grow Too

“What is your name?” they asked. The girl quivered with fear, and anxiety was devouring her within. They thought she had forgotten her own name because of the hesitation she showed. Then she went on, “Pa-Pa-Pa- Prathusha. Yes, that’s me!” Remembering the time when I was a PWS (Person Who Stutters) has always been a painful memory. It unleashes the bullying, humiliation, and frustration I experienced in the past. The best way to control the stuttering demon is by accepting that you are a stutterer and seeking help. I sought help through the Neuroscience Method to stopping stuttering in 2016, and it changed my life forever. The crutches bridged the gap between fluency and myself, making my speech smooth and free of struggle. I never thought I would become confident or lose the fear of speaking—but in the end, I did. Not only did I speak fluently, but I also grabbed the mic and hosted an event at my former workplace in 2017.

When I was given the opportunity to begin coaching others, I was initially skeptical and doubted my potential. But when I started coaching my first PWS—who stuttered on nearly 90% of his words—I realized the challenge I was taking on. First, I knew it was a mammoth task. Second, I was determined to help him become a PWSS (Person Who Stopped Stuttering). We worked intensely for almost two months, drilling all the crutches and working simultaneously on mind training treatments. Guess what happened next? My fellow PWS wouldn’t stop talking! Extreme pronunciation and voice modulation became his favorites—and eventually, he posted a Stopped Stuttering Story.

Now that I’m a PWSS myself, I want to give back what I learned through the Neuroscience Method to stopping stuttering. This coaching journey has been amazing, and I continue to learn from every PWS I coach.

Coaching is the new learning!