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A four-stage framework that takes clients from learning techniques to living with greater confidence.
Speak. Shape. Strengthen. Succeed
1. Speak – Build Awareness
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Goal: Understand your own speech.
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Learn how stuttering works
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Identify triggers
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Measure severity
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Recognize tension
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Reduce fear through education
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Set meaningful goals
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Key Question
“What is happening when I stutter?”
2. Shape – Build Fluent Speech
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This is the heart of your program.
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Teach your fluency shaping system:
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Easy onsets
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Light articulatory contacts
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Gentle airflow
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Continuous voicing
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Appropriate phrasing
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Rate control
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Breath support
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Forward speech movement
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Self-monitoring
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Key Question
“How do I produce easier speech?”
3. Strengthen – Make It Automatic
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Many people learn techniques but never master them.
This stage is about repetition.
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Include:
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Daily drills
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Structured reading
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Conversation practice
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Phone calls
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Ordering food
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Presentations
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Problem sounds
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Carryover assignments
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Parent or partner coaching (when appropriate)
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Key Question
“Can I use this outside the therapy room?”
4. Succeed – Live Without Avoidance
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The final stage isn’t perfect fluency.
It’s confident communication.
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Focus on:
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Saying what you want
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Speaking in meetings
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Dating
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Interviews
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College participation
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Classroom speaking
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Workplace conversations
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Advocacy
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Maintaining skills long term
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Key Question
“Can I communicate the way I want to?”
The Melnitsky Stuttering Framework™ combines evidence-based fluency shaping with structured practice, real-world carryover, and personalized coaching to help children, teens, and adults speak with greater ease, confidence, and consistency. Developed by Lori Melnitsky, MA, CCC-SLP—a speech-language pathologist who also stutters—the framework is grounded in more than 30 years of clinical experience and firsthand understanding of the challenges of stuttering.
Check out these podcasts for more information on Adult Stuttering:
Lori Talks to Former Client, Arsal, About His Stuttering Journey
Arsal talks about his 10+ year-long stuttering journey, from improving fluency to building confidence. He's now attending NYU, studying business.
“I cannot thank Lori enough for helping me control my stuttering and be more fluent. I did not want to accept. I could barely say my name, When we started working together my mindset literally was, I stutter, no one wants to listen to me. I now say. I stutter, can speak with confidence and say my name. Great program. Tk you"
- MP, Software engineer
Englewood, NJ, age 28
“Lori, Your program and personal understanding of stuttering blew my mind. I was so tired of being told to slow down and breathe. Thank you for your positive attitude, knowledge and strength.”
- CT, Female graduate student in social work Commack, NY, age 23
“Thank you for all you have done for me. Lori is a wealth of knowledge for adults who stutter.”
- HH, Financial Advisor
Manhattan, NY, age 31
