Henderson Stuttering Therapy, PLLC

MISSION: The “problem of stuttering” is, in many ways, what people who stutter do, feel, and think, to try to NOT stutter. Henderson Stuttering Therapy does not set out to push people’s stuttering under the surface, as that can and likely will perpetuate their experience of struggle. There is no “one size fits all” program or “ultimate guide” that works for everyone. We center each person’s experience of stuttering and tailor therapy to the individual client’s needs. Henderson Stuttering Therapy does not seek to point out “what’s wrong” with someone, but instead seeks to help our clients build on strengths they already possess. We work on building tools of management and resilience to help our clients move forward in life independently. Stuttering does not occur in a vacuum. We place stuttering within the greater context of communication. The experience of stuttering can make communication feel daunting, stressful, or shameful. It doesn’t have to. We work to facilitate a change in the experience of stuttering from one of avoidance to one of openness and spontaneity, from one of embarrassment and fear to one of joy and confidence. SERVICES: - Preschool Children and Families: While many children who start stuttering in their early years might "grow out of it", we don't have a crystal ball to predict stuttering's trajectory with certainty. Our focus is on improving the child's experience of stuttering, supporting families to prioritize communication over fluency, and building resiliency for everyone. The most important factor in early childhood stuttering therapy is involvement of the family and we center that. - School-Age Children: As children who stutter grow and develop, the demands and experiences of stuttering shift. Children begin to interact more with their stuttering in many ways, some helpful and some less helpful. Our approach with children who stutter centers the child's lived experience. Progress is not judged by some arbitrary "objective" standard but instead determined through collaboration and listening. The children are co-pilots in helping create lasting and meaningful change in their experience of stuttering. We help children become more of an "expert" on their stuttering, decrease avoidance, improve attitudes, and help create more comfortable and confident communication. - Teens: Adolescence is a time of upheaval. Changing perspectives and more complex social situations can make the experience of stuttering even more knotty. While the guiding framework of HST's stuttering therapy is constant across the lifespan, teens who stutter have a unique set of needs. We focus on making room for stuttering within their identity and set realistic and achievable goals for increase confidence and resiliency when stuttering. - Adults: Stuttering is not something that stops after you leave school behind. Our focus with adults who stutter is making changes in areas and ways that are truly desired. Targets and topics of discussion are rooted in the client's lived experience and specific set of motivations for change. We put immense premium in the "alliance" between therapist and client. Sessions are less like classes and more like collaborative meetings with review of past successes, client-initiated "target practice" and self-assignment setting for the week ahead. - Neurogenic/ Acquired Stuttering: For many, stuttering is something that develops naturally in childhood. For others, it is a product of an event such as physical trauma, incident, or illness. This population's "prognosis" is as varied and individualized as any, reinforcing the lack of a "one size fits all" approach. However, for many who have acquired stuttering later in life, the experience of struggle can be extremely similar to those who developed stuttering in childhood. As such, therapy does not look too dissimilar from other populations. - Stuttering and Down Syndrome: Stuttering is a co-existing condition for many people with Down syndrome and can present with it's own set of demands. Jack has had significant clinical experience with working on stuttering management with people with Down syndrome. The focus is on family support, positive reinforcement for communication, and shaping more forward-moving, tension-free stuttering. ABOUT: Jack Henderson, MS, CCC-SLP is a person who stutters with over a decade of clinical experience. His struggles and transformative journey with his own stutter are what led him to this field. Jack graduated from Vanderbilt University in 2011 with a Bachelor of Science in Child Studies and Theatre. He graduated from Vanderbilt University in 2013 with a Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology. During his undergraduate and graduate studies he worked on the Developmental Stuttering Project as a research assistant. In 2011, Jack co-founded Camp TALKS (Talking and Learning with Kids who Stutter) and ran the camp through 2023. He worked for two years in Robertson County (TN) schools, serving an elementary school and high school. He then worked for over 8 years at the Vanderbilt Bill Wilkerson Center. While at Vanderbilt, he worked primarily, though not exclusively, with people who stutter across the lifespan in the clinic. He has consulted with school-based SLPs in Nashville and many surrounding counties, led trainings on stuttering assessment and intervention locally and at ASHA Connect, appeared on the StutterTalk podcast and the Stuttering Foundation Podcast, contributed a column to the ASHA leader, had posters accepted to the Oxford Dysfluency Conference, generated informational handouts about stuttering, and spoken on local news about stuttering awareness. He has participated in intensive trainings on Palin Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCI), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Avoidance Reduction Therapy for Stuttering (ARTS®). Jack is a co-leader of the Nashville area chapter of the National Stuttering Association (NSA). Jack is an adjunct faculty at Austin Peay State University, teaching the graduate-level fluency course. Jack holds the Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) from ASHA and is licensed to practice in Tennessee, Alabama, and Kentucky. Jack is a designated Ally of Stuttering™ through Spero Stuttering, INC. Jack resides in Nashville, TN with his spouse and two children. He enjoys cooking, outdoor activities with his family, listening to records, and watching sports, especially baseball, soccer, and cricket.