Stuttering Therapy Philosophy

Lori Melnitsky has dealt with stuttering and fluency issues for many years and has helped many children and adults learn to communicate successfully.  She understands that stuttering not only involves the physical component of getting words out, but also the negative emotions which often occur during speaking. Lori knows the goal of improving communication for the person who stutters must include the following components:

Establishing an increase in fluency, dealing with negative emotions involved with communication in different settings, overcoming feared situations, learning how to carryover fluency skills in realistic life situations, and learning effective skills to maintain smooth, successful speech.  She also believes in the importance of intervening early with the preschool population to attempt to eliminate stuttering with the Lidcombe program for childhood stuttering.  Lori believes in not letting stuttering stop you from achieving your dreams.  With therapy and continued support improved fluency can be attained.

Lori has had the privilege of participating in several programs for stuttering and fluency enhancement over  the past 20 years in order to continue improving her repertoire of skills and knowledge.  These programs include:

• Precision Fluency Shaping Program-Hollins and Eastern Virginia
• American Institute for Stuttering
• Total Immersion Fluency Shaping
• Air Flow
• Easy Onsets (Amplitude Contour)
• Continuous Phonation

She has received training to be a provider of:

The Lidcombe Program for Early Childhood Stuttering Intervention
Intensive Fluency Shaping Programs

Lori is also:

• A group leader for the National Stuttering Association Teen and Adult Chapters
• On the referral list of the Stuttering Foundation of America
• Founder of The Long Island Stuttering Connection Practice Groups
• A recipient of 4 continuing education awards
• A member of Division 4-Fluency Disorders
• A Speech Easy follow-up provider
• A Fluency and Public Speaking Coach
• A presenter at local public schools, universities and conventions