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# Sisskin Stuttering Center

Achieving Confidence & Comfort in Communication

## Sitemaps

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## Pages

- [](https://www.sisskinstutteringcenter.com/) - We are the creators of Avoidance Reduction Therapy for Stuttering (ARTS®) and provide group and individual teletherapy options for people of all ages. We specialize in acceptance-based therapy for stuttering, cluttering, and other fluency differences. Our practice is known for our rare expertise in therapy for atypical disfluency including word-final (end-word) disfluency in both neurotypical and neurodivergent individuals.
- [About Sisskin Stuttering Center](https://www.sisskinstutteringcenter.com/about) - The Sisskin Stuttering Center offers teletherapy services to support those who stutter, clutter, or demonstrate other disfluencies to achieve comfortable and confident communication. We have expertise and experience in working with young children and their families, school-age children, teens, and adults. Two members of our team are Board Certified Specialists in Stuttering, Cluttering, and Fluency
- [Resources For All - articles, videos, podcasts, handouts](https://www.sisskinstutteringcenter.com/resources) - Chapters and Articles of Interest: Sisskin, V., Brow, N., Goldstein, B., Goldstein-Schuff, C., Shaw, K., & Wertz, J. (2026). Avoidance reduction therapy for stuttering: Case spotlights through an ARTS lens. Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups, 1–16. Phillips, M.C. & Spaulding, T.J. (2025). Listening to Voices That Matter: The Speech Therapy Experiences of People
- [Training for Speech-Language Therapists](https://www.sisskinstutteringcenter.com/slp-training) - Avoidance Reduction Therapy for Stuttering (ARTS®) Training Sisskin Stuttering Center offers periodic ARTS ® trainings for speech-language therapists. Our 2 ½ day workshop provides an overview of the theory and principles of Avoidance Reduction Therapy for Stuttering (ARTS®), presents the nuts and bolts of strength-based assessment, and describes therapy principles for both children and adults.
- [ Injecting Novelty and Chasing Control ](https://www.sisskinstutteringcenter.com/arts-stories/injecting-novelty-and-chasing-control) - By Abishek Agarwal I love trying different coffee places. As I walk up to the counter to place my order, what was once a feeling of anticipation and dread has since given way to a newfound curiosity. How will this barista respond to stuttering? I am not worried about their reactions impacting me- it doesn't
- [The Lived Experience – Stories](https://www.sisskinstutteringcenter.com/arts-stories)
- [Daniel Shaw](https://www.sisskinstutteringcenter.com/staff/daniel-shaw) - Daniel Shaw, M.S., CCC-SLP Daniel is a speech-language therapist at the Sisskin Stuttering Center and for Sumner County Schools in Tennessee. He has extensive experience working in both school and university clinical settings, most recently as the chair of the stuttering team at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, with special interests in stuttering across the lifespan, counseling, autism, and play development. Daniel also serves as the director of Camp TALKS, a week-long summer camp for children who
- [Our Team](https://www.sisskinstutteringcenter.com/staff)
- [Maria Binger](https://www.sisskinstutteringcenter.com/staff/maria-binger) - Maria Binger, M.A., CCC-SLP Maria is a speech language pathologist at the Sisskin Stuttering Center. She also partners with Illinois school districts in the suburbs of Chicago to provide speech services and parent trainings. Maria grew up in Maryland and attended the University of Maryland where she earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Spanish
- [Services](https://www.sisskinstutteringcenter.com/services) - Group Therapy Sisskin Stuttering Center is known for outstanding programs of group therapy for stuttering. Avoidance Reduction Therapy for Stuttering (ARTS®) groups are available for school-age children and adults. We have many group options including groups for tweens, young teens, older teens, adults, and some special groups devoted to women who stutter. We offer a group with
- [Contact](https://www.sisskinstutteringcenter.com/contact) - Scheduling a First Appointment We generally begin with an initial consultation through our HIPAA compliant Zoom portal. The consult generally takes about an hour. This is not a complete evaluation, but it does provide an opportunity to learn about our practice and our services. Content covered during the consult will naturally be very different for
- [Opportunities for Support](https://www.sisskinstutteringcenter.com/support-opportunities) - Join us for a stuttering community event: StutterSpace, an evening of fun and connection for all! Opportunities for Support Academics Who Stutter Manifest with Aidan Marshall-Cort
- [Become A Member](https://www.sisskinstutteringcenter.com/become-a-member) - Application Form ARTS® Peer Mentoring Community Clinicians who have participated in a full ARTS® training are eligible to join our Peer Mentoring Community. Membership includes attendance at monthly virtual Peer Mentoring Sessions. They are described below. Monthly Virtual Peer Mentoring Sessions Members will receive a list of upcoming Peer Mentoring sessions, topics, and dates via
- [ARTS® Peer Mentoring Community Registration](https://www.sisskinstutteringcenter.com/arts-peer-mentoring-community-registration) - Please complete the form below to register for the Sisskin Stuttering Center ARTS® Peer Mentoring Community.Membership includes monthly virtual peer mentoring sessions with SSC Team members. * indicates required Email Address *First Name *Last Name *Address Address Line 2CityState/Province/RegionPostal / Zip CodeCountryAlbaniaAlgeriaAndorraAngolaArgentinaArmeniaAustraliaAustriaAzerbaijanBahamasBahrainBangladeshBarbadosBelarusBelgiumBelizeBeninBermudaBhutanBoliviaBosnia and HerzegovinaBotswanaBrazilBulgariaBurkina FasoBurundiCambodiaCameroonCanadaCape VerdeCayman IslandsCentral African RepublicChadChileChinaColombiaCongoCroatiaCyprusCzech RepublicDenmarkDjiboutiEcuadorEgyptEl SalvadorEquatorial GuineaEritreaEstoniaEthiopiaFijiFinlandFranceGabonGambiaGeorgiaGermanyGhanaGreeceGuamGuineaGuinea-BissauGuyanaHondurasHong KongHungaryIcelandIndiaIndonesiaIrelandIsraelItalyJapanJordanKazakhstanKenyaKuwaitKyrgyzstanLao People's Democratic
- [ARTS® Workshops](https://www.sisskinstutteringcenter.com/arts-workshop) - Complete this form to receive advance notice of future ARTS® workshops and training * indicates required Email Address *First Name *Last Name *Address Address Line 2CityState/Province/RegionPostal / Zip CodeCountryAlbaniaAlgeriaAndorraAngolaArgentinaArmeniaAustraliaAustriaAzerbaijanBahamasBahrainBangladeshBarbadosBelarusBelgiumBelizeBeninBermudaBhutanBoliviaBosnia and HerzegovinaBotswanaBrazilBulgariaBurkina FasoBurundiCambodiaCameroonCanadaCape VerdeCayman IslandsCentral African RepublicChadChileChinaColombiaCongoCroatiaCyprusCzech RepublicDenmarkDjiboutiEcuadorEgyptEl SalvadorEquatorial GuineaEritreaEstoniaEthiopiaFijiFinlandFranceGabonGambiaGeorgiaGermanyGhanaGreeceGuamGuineaGuinea-BissauGuyanaHondurasHong KongHungaryIcelandIndiaIndonesiaIrelandIsraelItalyJapanJordanKazakhstanKenyaKuwaitKyrgyzstanLao People’s Democratic RepublicLatviaLebanonLesothoLiberiaLiechtensteinLithuaniaLuxembourgMacedoniaMadagascarMalawiMalaysiaMaldivesMaliMaltaMauritaniaMexicoMoldovaMonacoMongoliaMoroccoMozambiqueNamibiaNepalNetherlandsNetherlands AntillesNew ZealandNicaraguaNigerNigeriaNorwayOmanPakistanPanamaParaguayPeruPhilippinesPolandPortugalQatarReunionRomaniaRussiaRwandaSamoa (Independent)Saudi ArabiaSenegalSeychellesSierra LeoneSingaporeSlovakiaSloveniaSomaliaSouth AfricaSouth KoreaSpainSri LankaSurinameSwazilandSwedenSwitzerlandTaiwanTanzaniaThailandTogoTunisiaTurkiyeTurkmenistanUgandaUkraineUnited Arab EmiratesUruguayUSAUzbekistanVatican City State
- [Matt Phillips](https://www.sisskinstutteringcenter.com/staff/matt-phillips) - Matt Phillips, M.A., CCC-SLP Matt is a person who stutters and a speech therapist at the Sisskin Stuttering Center. He is currently pursuing his PhD in stuttering with Dr. Bridget Walsh at Michigan State University. He previously attended the University of Connecticut where he earned his master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology and undergraduate degrees in
- [Manifest with Aidan Marshall-Cort](https://www.sisskinstutteringcenter.com/support-opportunities/manifest-with-aidan-marshall-cort) - Manifest with Aidan Marshall-Cort Sisskin Stuttering Center is sponsoring a monthly support and discussion group, Manifest with Aidan Marshall-Cort. This is a group geared towards Black Men Who Stutter, ages ranging from Teenagers to Older Adults, who are seeking a space and community to discuss common experiences. Manifest also serves as a platform to highlight the
- [Samantha Wasilus](https://www.sisskinstutteringcenter.com/staff/samantha-wasilus) - Samantha Wasilus,M.A., CCC-SLP, BCS-SCF Samantha is a speech language pathologist at Sisskin Stuttering Center and also works for Prince George’s County Public Schools. She is a Board Certified Specialist in Fluency and Fluency Disorders. Although Samantha is from New Jersey, she has developed strong ties to the DC metro area over the past 18 years.
- [Vivian Sisskin](https://www.sisskinstutteringcenter.com/staff/vivian-sisskin) - Vivian Sisskin, M.S., CCC-SLP, BCS-SCF Vivian Sisskin has more than 40 years experience specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of stuttering and other disfluencies across the lifespan. She is a Fellow of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and a Board Certified Specialist in Fluency and Fluency Disorders. Vivian is a Clinical Professor Emerita in the Department
- [Academics Who Stutter](https://www.sisskinstutteringcenter.com/support-opportunities/academics-who-stutter) - Academics Who Stutter Sisskin Stuttering Center is hosting a twice-monthly discussion/support group with a special focus: Academics Who Stutter. This will be a group of professors/lecturers/researchers who would like to discuss common experiences and share ideas related to stuttering in their professional contexts. The group will be hosted/facilitated by Nelson Almeida (physical therapy). This is
- [Word-Final Disfluency–A Parents’ Perspective](https://www.sisskinstutteringcenter.com/word-final-disfluency-a-parents-perspective) - We have been amazed and grateful that our child's experience with speech therapy has been both incredibly effective and stress-free. Our child had a word-final speech disfluency for many years, and we had never figured out what to do about it. Waiting it out wasn't leading to any improvements. Prior experiences with speech therapy had
- [“Doing” Something Results in “Doing Less” About Stuttering.                   (This is not the same as doing nothing)](https://www.sisskinstutteringcenter.com/doing-something-results-in-doing-less-about-stuttering-this-is-not-the-same-as-doing-nothing) - What does stuttering affirming therapy look like? Back in 2005 at the age of 31 years old this was my first experience of stuttering affirming therapy with Dublin Adult Stuttering and then again in 2022 with ARTS®. What was different about this therapy to previous speech therapy was there was no effort to suppress my
- [Nic Brow](https://www.sisskinstutteringcenter.com/staff/nic-brow) - Nic Brow, M.A., CCC-SLP Nic Brow works as a speech language pathologist at the Sisskin Stuttering Center, as the FRIENDS One Day Conference Programming Assistant Director, and an adjunct faculty at George Washington University where he teaches a course on stuttering. He has conducted research on the experience of stuttering with both adults and teens,
- [Avoidance Reduction Therapy for Stuttering (ARTS®)](https://www.sisskinstutteringcenter.com/arts) - Outcomes ahead, progress in the rearview mirror ARTS® is based on the principle that, while stuttering has a neurological core, the problem of stuttering isn’t the stutter, but the fear of stuttering. In response to this fear, many people who stutter learn avoidance behaviors, such as losing eye contact during disfluency, substituting words, saying “uh”
- [Peer Mentoring Communities](https://www.sisskinstutteringcenter.com/community) - 🗓 Access the ARTS™ Peer Mentoring Calendar here. Forums Recent Posts Notifications Clear all Sisskin Stuttering Center Forum Unread Posts
- [Forum](https://www.sisskinstutteringcenter.com/community-2)
- [Avoidance Reduction Therapy for Stuttering (ARTS®) Virtual Workshop June 23-25, 2024](https://www.sisskinstutteringcenter.com/slp-training/arts-virtual-workshop-june-2024) - This virtual workshop includes 3 days (16 hours) of instruction, covering ARTS® basics: Theoretical premises and guiding principles Culture/values Therapy procedures and activities The workshop is designed for speech-language therapists with a solid understanding of stuttering and traditional therapy approaches. Application has been submitted for 1.6 ASHA CEUs (16 hours) at Advanced, Professional Level. Description
- [Workshop](https://www.sisskinstutteringcenter.com/workshop)
- [Log-in](https://www.sisskinstutteringcenter.com/log-in)
- [Submit Organizer Form](https://www.sisskinstutteringcenter.com/submit-organizer-form)
- [Event Venues](https://www.sisskinstutteringcenter.com/event-venues)
- [Organizer Dashboard](https://www.sisskinstutteringcenter.com/organizer-dashboard)
- [Event Organizers](https://www.sisskinstutteringcenter.com/event-organizers)
- [Submit Venue Form](https://www.sisskinstutteringcenter.com/submit-venue-form)
- [Venue Dashboard](https://www.sisskinstutteringcenter.com/venue-dashboard)
- [Ben Goldstein](https://www.sisskinstutteringcenter.com/staff/ben-goldstein) - Ben Goldstein, M.A., CCC-SLP Ben Goldstein is a speech-language pathologist at the Sisskin Stuttering Center and for Prince George’s County Public Schools in Maryland. He is also an adjunct faculty member at Gallaudet University, teaching the graduate level stuttering course. Ben is a person who stutters and completed his master’s degree in speech-language pathology at
- [Jessica Wertz](https://www.sisskinstutteringcenter.com/staff/jessica-wertz) - Jessica Wertz, M.A., CCC-SLP Jessica is a speech-language pathologist at Sisskin Stuttering Center and Assistant Clinical Professor at the University of Maryland. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Communication Disorders and Psychology from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Jessica earned her Master of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology at the University of Maryland, College Park.
- ["Dreadful Hellos"](https://www.sisskinstutteringcenter.com/arts-stories/dreadful-hellos) - by TaShika Lewis There have been many times when my stuttering has caused me stress, embarrassment, and anxiety. Throughout my life, I have mentally suppressed certain moments. Some childhood memories are tough to forget and stand out more. Looking back during these moments still causes slight anxiety, stress, and embarrassment. Let’s start with one moment
- [Chaya Goldstein-Schuff](https://www.sisskinstutteringcenter.com/staff/chaya-goldstein-schuff) - Chaya Goldstein-Schuff, MA, CCC-SLP Chaya is a speech-language pathologist at the Sisskin Stuttering Center, specializing in trauma-informed stuttering therapy across the lifespan. Chaya has worked in public and private schools and the nonprofit sector; and has taught graduate courses in stuttering. As a person who stutters, Chaya is passionate about stuttering education and advocacy. She co-hosts
- [My Semi-Out-of-Body Experience](https://www.sisskinstutteringcenter.com/arts-stories/my-semi-out-of-body-experience) - by Charles Repine When the approach-avoidance conflict achieves nuclear fission The Universe’s Most Powerful Force: Brain Itch Navigating the world as someone who stutters, I experience the approach-avoidance conflict on pretty much a daily basis. For those of you who aren’t aware, the approach-avoidance conflict is a term from psychology for the tension we feel
- [OpenStutter on YouTube](https://www.sisskinstutteringcenter.com/openstutter) - Explore the channel
- [Avoidance Reduction Therapy for Stuttering (ARTS®) Workshop](https://www.sisskinstutteringcenter.com/2023-arts-workshop) - We are excited to announce our next in-person workshop Dates: April 20-22, 2023Location: Hennessy Creek, Brandywine, MDCost: $550 (includes continental style breakfast and lunch each day) Our 2 ½ day workshop will take place at a beautiful farm venue - Hennessy Creek. The venue is about 30 minutes from the National Harbor in Maryland (close
- ["I'll Not Only Get By, I'll Thrive With a Little Help From My Friends"](https://www.sisskinstutteringcenter.com/arts-stories/thrive-with-a-little-help-from-my-friends) - by Stephen Greene Although I’ve stuttered since the age of five I didn’t really feel its impact until my teenage and early adulthood years, that’s not to say the origin of my masking behaviour didn’t start much earlier. I grew up in a working class area of Dublin Ireland, the second eldest in a family
- [A Closer Look at Avoidance Reduction Therapy](https://www.sisskinstutteringcenter.com/articles/arts-therapy-overview) - Avoidance Reduction Therapy for Stuttering (ARTS®): An Overview Vivian Sisskin, University of Maryland, Maryland, USA; Sisskin Stuttering Center; Virginia, USAMark Baer, Sisskin Stuttering Center, Virginia, USA Theory and Framework “Basically, stuttering is not a speech disorder but a conflict revolving around self and role, an identity problem.” – Joseph Sheehan The roots of Avoidance Reduction Therapy for Stuttering
- [Scholarly articles](https://www.sisskinstutteringcenter.com/articles) - A Closer Look at Avoidance Reduction Therapy
- [“Me and Stuttering”](https://www.sisskinstutteringcenter.com/arts-stories/me-and-stuttering) - by Ben Goldstein Earlier this year, a friend of mine wrote out his story and posted it on his blog. It was authentic, reflective, and generally just a joy to read. He told me it was therapeutic for him to write it and suggested I do the same. In honor of National Stuttering Awareness Week,
- [“My Name is Nelson”](https://www.sisskinstutteringcenter.com/arts-stories/my-name-is-nelson) - by Nelson A 20 year old male college student was sneaking through his dormitory hallway to the seclusion of his room when he was cornered. His brown eyes widened when a friendly floor-mate introduced himself. “Hey my name is Steven. What is your name?” With a parched throat and sweaty palms he responded, “Uhhhh, Jason!”
- [“My Journey to Self-Acceptance”](https://www.sisskinstutteringcenter.com/arts-stories/my-journey-to-self-acceptance) - By Nadia Alobaid I just graduated from graduate school in May. I was consistently assigned presentations. My last presentation was in late April and I delivered it with comfort and confidence. I focused on the content and I didn’t worry about if I was going to stutter or not. At the end of that presentation
- [“Taking Risks”](https://www.sisskinstutteringcenter.com/arts-stories/taking-risks) - by Sarah Bryant A few years ago, I used to avoid talking as much as I could. Not being able to say what I wanted left me feeling hopeless and trapped. I did everything I could to stutter as little as possible every minute of everyday. The easiest way to not stutter was to simply
- [“I Could Relax and Even Back Float!”](https://www.sisskinstutteringcenter.com/arts-stories/i-could-relax-and-even-back-float) - by Karyn Goldman The biggest eye opener of Avoidance Reduction Therapy involved learning that stuttering does not necessitate struggling. I had always assumed that these behaviors were inextricable, that in order to communicate, I would need to force out my words, to plow through them at whatever cost. And the cost was high. When Vivian
- [“ARTS – Finding the Light”](https://www.sisskinstutteringcenter.com/arts-stories/finding-the-light) - by Jenny McGuire I spent the first 22 years of my life hiding from myself and hiding myself from the world. I was disgusted and ashamed by the sound of my stutter. From an early age I did everything in my power to bury that part of my identity. I would hang up the phone
- [“ARTS – Why Relapse Isn’t Possible”](https://www.sisskinstutteringcenter.com/arts-stories/arts-why-relapse-isnt-possible) - by Reuben Schuff Its 4:15 A.M. Alarm number two wakes me. I need to be out the door by 4:55 A.M. to make it from my apartment in Raleigh, NC to Vivian’s office in McLane, VA by 9:30 A.M. for Saturday group. I’ll get home about 6 or 7 P.M. It’s the best 14 hour
- [“It’s Okay to Stutter”](https://www.sisskinstutteringcenter.com/arts-stories/its-okay-to-stutter) - by Charles Repine I guess I was 23 the first time I heard this simple yet life-changing truth: “It’s ok to stutter.” It seems simple now, some ten years later, but at the time it was a radical — even revolutionary — idea. And as with most radical ideas, I resisted it. I even sought
- [“Finding ARTS Changed my Life”](https://www.sisskinstutteringcenter.com/arts-stories/finding-arts-changed-my-life) - by Ilan I have been stuttering my entire life. Growing up I always had this dream that I would wake up one day and it would all be better; my stutter would be gone, and I would be fluent just like everyone else. As life progressed instead of my stutter disappearing it just kept on
- [“Stuttering Advice”](https://www.sisskinstutteringcenter.com/arts-stories/stuttering-advice) - by Erica, Darnestown, MD Hi. I’m Erica. I’m 8 years old. Sometimes I stutter. I want to give you some advice for when that happens. Just keep on going. People will more likely not notice if you keep on going. Though it’s not something that’s bad if people notice it. And also don’t change your