01
Adventure-based
Movement, nature, challenges, and real-world moments create communication that feels purposeful—not rehearsed.
Do · reflect · applySpecialized stuttering therapy · Children, teens & adults
Stuttering therapy
for real life.
Personalized care that helps people communicate with more confidence, choice, and connection—wherever life happens.
Adventure-basedPractice communication through meaningful experience.
Person-centeredBuild therapy around the person, not a preset script.
Identity-affirmingSupport agency without asking anyone to hide who they are.
A different kind of speech therapy
Progress isn’t a straight trail.
Stuttering can shape how a person moves through school, work, relationships, and the world. Therapy should honor all of that—not reduce a life to a fluency score.
At SMCC, evidence-based speech therapy meets movement, reflection, and meaningful experience. The goal is not to erase stuttering. It is to help each person communicate with more knowledge, agency, and confidence.
Our approach
Care that follows the person—not a script.
Every plan is shaped around lived experience, communication goals, sensory and emotional needs, and the environments where speaking actually happens.
02
Person-centered
Your priorities lead. Therapy is collaborative, flexible, and built around what meaningful communication looks like to you.
Choice · trust · connection03
Identity-affirming
Stuttering is one part of a person—not a flaw. We support self-advocacy, acceptance, and a confident communication identity.
Dignity · agency · voiceWho we serve
Support for every stretch of the journey.
Stuttering changes over time. Our work meets each age with developmentally respectful language, practical tools, and goals that fit daily life.
Find your next stepChildren
Playful, active sessions that build communication confidence while giving families language and tools to support a child without pressure.
- Stuttering education
- Emotional regulation
- Family coaching
Teens
A collaborative place to explore identity, speaking choices, anxiety, self-advocacy, and the social situations that matter most.
- Communication agency
- School & social support
- Real-world challenges
Adults
Individualized support for work, relationships, public speaking, self-understanding, and communicating with greater freedom.
- Values-led goals
- Workplace communication
- Self-advocacy
Our trail markers
What guides every session.
These aren’t add-ons. They are the ground beneath the work.
- 01Safety
Emotional, physical, and relational safety comes first.
- 02Dignity
Every person deserves respect, autonomy, and a voice.
- 03Experience
We learn through doing, reflecting, and applying.
- 04Connection
Trust and relationship help meaningful change take root.
- 05Hope
Growth is possible at every age and every point on the trail.
Meet your guide
Dr. Steven Moates
Speech-language pathologist · Clinical educator · Adventure therapist
Steven has spent years helping young people discover their voice—in therapy and in the world around them.
His work brings evidence-based speech-language therapy together with experiential learning, emotional awareness, teamwork, reflection, and outdoor-informed practice. The result is care that feels relational, purposeful, and alive.
Kids don’t just practice communication; they live it.
Your first steps
A clear path forward.
No need to arrive with the right words or a perfect plan. We’ll figure out the next step together.
-
1
Say hello
Share what brings you here
Send a brief note about yourself or your child, what is feeling hard, and what you hope could change.
-
2
Find the fit
Start with a conversation
We’ll talk about goals, questions, session format, and whether SMCC feels like the right fit.
-
3
Choose the trail
Build a plan together
Therapy evolves around the person—combining knowledge, practice, reflection, and meaningful experiences.
Good questions
Before we begin.
Wondering if this approach fits? These are useful places to start.
Is the goal to stop stuttering?
No. Therapy does not treat a person’s voice as something broken. Goals may include understanding stuttering, reducing struggle, expanding communication choices, building self-advocacy, and speaking with greater confidence and freedom.
Does adventure-based therapy always happen outdoors?
Not always. Sessions may be indoors, outdoors, or blended based on goals, comfort, safety, access, and what supports meaningful participation. Adventure can mean a nature walk, a collaborative challenge, or simply trying something new.
Do you work with adults as well as young people?
Yes. SMCC offers stuttering support for children, teens, and adults. The process, language, and goals are adapted to the person’s age, context, and priorities.
What happens in a first consultation?
The first conversation is a chance to share what brings you here, ask questions, discuss the kind of support you’re looking for, and decide whether the approach is a good fit. You do not need to prepare a formal history before reaching out.
Can parents or families be involved?
Absolutely. For children and teens, family collaboration can help create a more supportive communication environment beyond the therapy session. The level of involvement is tailored to the young person and family.
Start a conversation
There’s room for your whole story here.
Tell us a little about what you’re looking for. Your email app will open with your note prepared for Dr. Steven Moates; nothing is stored on this website.
Email directly
stmoates.slpd@gmail.com