Virtual Adults Group for 20-30 Year Olds
Join us!
Friends is really excited to offer Virtual Adults Groups for 20-30 year olds, which includes anyone between the ages of 18-39. These groups provide a comfortable space for adults who stutter to share stories and laughs virtually. Adult groups run for an hour and 15 minutes.
Upcoming Dates: Thursdays at 7:30 PM Eastern on 12/12/24, 1/9/25, and 2/13/25
Sign up here: Virtual Adults Group for 20-30 Year Olds Registration Form
Note to SLPs and graduate students: Thanks for your interest in stuttering support groups! Groups play an important role in normalizing stuttering and fostering acceptance, growth, and resilience. We are grateful to so many therapists for spreading the word about our no-cost virtual groups. If you are looking to attend a group, please note that we do not offer opportunities to observe or participate in these peer support groups. For SLP educational and training opportunities, please see our one-day conferences and annual convention. We also recommend visiting our YouTube channel to watch panels of young people who stutter, parents, adults who stutter, and presentations by fellow SLPs. Join our mailing list below to get the latest updates about upcoming CEU and training opportunities.
Group Summary
Photo above is from our June 13th Adult Group. Thanks to all who attended!
We had participants in the US from the east coast all the way to California. One attendee was in Brisbane, Australia! We talked about what acceptance is and what it is not. Accpetance doesn’t mean you have to like it. It doesn’t mean there isn’t struggle or that stuttering doesn’t bother you at times. We talked about how acceptance of ourselves is a lifelong journey that doesn’t have an end point. We then discussed the parts of stuttering that can be very frustrating (not wanting to take up someone’s time, people misunderstanding you and thinking you are rude for not talking or not saying “thank you,” etc). We talked about how maybe we also have to stop expecting the “perfect listener.” Maybe we project sometimes. A listener who is distracted and not maintaining eye contact may actually do that with everyone, for example. Everyone participated and spoke in the group and shared some of their interests/hobbies.
— Allison Ladavat on facilitating the November 14th Adult Group
Meet the Facilitation Team
Aileen Rife is a person who stutters and has been involved in Friends for over 18 years. Friends has had a significant positive impact on her life and she loves the chance to meet new people who stutter through the Virtual Adult Group. Aileen is a licensed CPA and works for a real estate investment firm. Email Aileen
Stavros Ladeas is a PWS, a proud father and software engineer based in Providence, RI. He spent a decade in NYC where he met his amazing wife and became involved in the stuttering advocacy community. His work challenges him and helps him grow, and he enjoys being a new parent in his free time. Email Stavros
Mike Turner is a father, a husband, a filmmaker, and a person who stutters. He attended FRIENDS for the first time in 2014, where he gave the keynote address about making his autobiographical film The Way We Talk. He lives in Oregon. Email Mike
Josette Tugander is a person who stutters, New York State certified school psychologist, and doctoral student in the School Psychology PsyD program at St. John’s University. She has been involved in Friends for over a decade and was one of the original founders of the virtual groups during the height of the pandemic. Friends has introduced Josette to some of her biggest mentors and greatest friends, and she has loved every minute of being involved in this incredible organization. Email Josette
Róisín McManus is stutterer, nurse practitioner and mother. She has been involved with Friends since 2010, and still gets chills witnessing its impact on kids, families, adults and therapists. She works as a nurse practitioner specializing in palliative care, and lives in Providence, RI with her husband, daughter and extended family. Email Róisín