Mandy Rodstrom & Debbie Mason on, Creating Spaces for Stuttering to Exist Hosted by Rosemary Davies-Janes. Produced by J'aime Rothbard. What if traditional fluency-focused approaches designed to "fix" stuttering cause more harm than healing? In this conversation, speech therapists Mandy Rodstrom and Debbie Mason share personal and clinical insights that reveal how trauma, nervous system dysregulation and social stigma profoundly impact those who stammer. They highlight the critical importance of connecting people who stutter with supportive communities where stuttering is welcomed and celebrated as authentic expression. Debbie and Mandy also reflect on: - The neurological underpinnings of developmental stammering - How an overburdened nervous system is related to functional stammering - How fluency-focused approaches can disconnect people from their authentic selves - how suppressed grief and emotion can manifest as functional stammering This conversation connects stuttering to so much more than verbal expression. It's about feelings, thoughts, environments, community, trauma and the courage to exist authentically in a world that demands fluency. About Mandy Rodstrom, Speech-Language Therapist After spending 30+ years hiding her stutter and her Self—Mandy made the life-changing decision to embrace her authentic voice and her community. Many who stutter carry invisible wounds from years of being silenced, interrupted, or misunderstood in ableist systems that prioritize fluency over authenticity. Through compassionate trauma-informed conversation, Mandy provides greater understanding of stuttering as a deeply embodied experience which shapes, and is shaped by, societal narratives and how we relate to ourselves and others. With 19 years of school-based experience, she specializes in developmental stuttering through a client- and family-centered, neurodiversity- affirming, and trauma-informed lens. In her private practice, Mandy's stuttering-affirming therapeutic approach honors each person's unique journey. A passionate advocate for transforming how speech therapists understand and support people who stutter, Mandy supervises graduate clinicians and shapes the next generation of speech-language therapists through the university stuttering courses she teaches. Mandy is a STARR Commonwealth Certified Trauma and Resilience Specialist / Coach, holds the Spero Ally of Stuttering seal and is a Special Projects Ambassador for Spero Ally of Stuttering, who works to expand access to affirming care and professional development. She's also a freelance audio narrator for The Informed SLP, using her openly stuttering voice to challenge conventional narratives about fluency and representation. Her international presentations—including the International Conference on Stuttering in Rome and the World Congress of Stuttering and Cluttering—advocate for a paradigm shift that celebrates stuttering as part of human diversity rather than something to fix. About Debbie Mason, CI, IFS and Hypnotherapy Trained Speech & Language Therapist Debbie has worked with children and adults who stammer for 30+ years. In her private practice, she supports them in reaching their potential by connecting to their intuition, values and personal truth. Currently she is interested in functional stammering, which is increasing significantly in the UK. Debbie also leads a National Health Stammering Service in South West England, delivers trainings and workshops to Speech and Language Therapists, students and people who stammer. She co-hosts a group; "Stammering and Spirituality" for Stamma, the British Stammering Association and is committed to supporting the goals of the Stammering Pride movement which aims to create a society that understands, values and honours the stammering voice. To support a positive and affirming view of stammering, Debbie has acted as an advisor on several plays featuring characters who stammer. She has also written about the use of NLP with people who stammer and been part of a research project that examined the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on adults who stammer in the UK. Always interested in the role of the unconscious mind and the mind-body link, Debbie has trained in Compassionate Inquiry, Internal Family Systems, Hypnotherapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Neuro-Linguistic Programming. She practices meditation and enjoys exploring the links between psychology and spirituality. When not working with clients, students or movements, Debbie enjoys recharging in nature, and taking long country walks with her partner and friends which may involve a beach, definitely involve a dog, a pub and lots of treats. Promotional Message The Compassionate Inquiry Suicide Attention Training is for therapists, health professionals and others working in therapeutic, healing, educational, medical, or coaching roles. If you're seeking sensitive training to help you recognize and support people in your communities who may be experiencing suicidal distress, tap this link. It will take you to a web page where you can learn more about this training, and decide if it's a good fit for you. Resources: Websites Mandy's Professional Website Debbie's ASLTIP Profile Related Links: Stuttering Commons Library of Dysfluent Voices The National Association of Young People Who Stutter Arthur M. Blank Center for Stuttering Education and Research British Stammering Association Action for Stammering Children Podcasts: Stutter Talk Around the Block Video: Open Stutter YouTube Channel Books: Out With It Every Waking Moment the-book;Life on Delay On Stuttering Stammering Pride and Prejudice Stammering Therapy from the Inside Articles: Enacted stigma and felt stigma experienced by adults who stutter Fostering Positive Stuttering Identities Using Stutter-Affirming Therapy "Hide and survive:" A conceptual model of stuttering concealment Concealing Stuttering at School: "When You Can't Fix It…the Only Alternative Is to Hide It" Quotes: "Trauma is not what happens to you, it's what happens inside you as a result of what happened to you." - Gabor Maté "It takes two to stutter." - Dr. Joshua St. Pierre "...there's no other area of parenting where a child is obviously struggling to master something, where the parents don't offer support in some way. And I'm not sure why we see stammering as different." - Debbie Mason "If we meet someone who stutters, how can we support them? Slow down for more connection, be as present as possible, neutral [in your body language] and non verbal. But also ask, how can I support you?" - Mandy Rodstrom "...people who tend to have difficulty saying no, who suppress emotion, who are hyper responsible, take on the problems of everyone else and ignore their own needs, are more susceptible to functional stammering." - Debbie Mason Social Media: Mandy's IG @arod.581
