"Stuttering and Avoidance had always been interchangeable concepts for me. Why engage the world when I could just hide in the isolating yet comforting cocoon of my silence?

I avoided every speaking situation that I could and those that proved unavoidable never failed to trigger deep feelings of shame, embarrassment, and anger. 

I despised being “different”. I despised this merciless affliction that prevented me from saying the words to express my thoughts, feelings, and emotions. I despised myself.

I have been an overt stutterer for as long as I can remember. I learned of the McGuire Programme™ and attended my first course when I was nearing forty.

The 2020 Washington, DC, McGuire Programme course almost didn't happen.  The COVID-19 pandemic was just starting to get serious in the USA, but attendees were polled and decided to hold the course.

Though some had to head home early, everyone made the most of their time at the course and was glad that they came.

It was a truly international course, with members from the UK, Sweden, Canada, Trinidad & Tobago, and across the USA coming together to help each other overcome their fears of speaking.  Said one new student,

Vice President Biden is well known in the stuttering community as someone who has struggled with - and overcome - his stuttering.

He made the most of a unique opportunity to elaborate on the challenges we all have faced every day of our lives, and I was struck by how much his words embody two foundational McGuire Programme beliefs:

2019 has been a fantastic year for the McGuire Programme in the USA and Canada, and we were happy to close out the year in style, showing Las Vegas how we overcome our stuttering.

Combining new physical and psychological techniques, our members do things they could only have ever dreamed of before - and then learn how to do them in real life as well.

The hallmark of the Programme is the LIFETIME support and ongoing coaching that all members receive.  Said one new member after more than a week of using his new speaking techniques in the real world:

The McGuire Programme celebrated its 5th anniversary in Toronto this year, and what a celebration it was!

This was our first-ever all-Canadian group of new students, and McGP members from Canada, the USA, the UK, Ireland, and Australia participated in the course.

Every course has its share of inspiring accomplishments from new students and graduates alike, and this course was no different. Our new students took MASSIVE steps in beginning their journeys to overcome their stuttering and to truly change their lives. Said one new student,

In our second year in Chicago, the McGuire Programme welcomed people from all over the world to work together to learn to speak eloquently and overcome our stuttering.

As with many courses, attendees in Chicago hailed from across the United States and as far away as England and Israel.  This just further reinforces the fact that ANYONE can make massive changes in their lives by following this incredible programme and its techniques for conquering the physical, psychological, and emotional challenges that stuttering poses.