I like what I hear about the McGuire Programme and I want to apply for my first course. How do I do that?
The application form should be completed by yourself or, in the case of a minor, by a parent, guardian or other responsible person.
If you choose to apply online, the first step is to go to the online application form http://www.stammering.ie/wordpress/?page_id=227

When you have filled in all the information we ask you to provide, click on the ‘Submit’ button. Your application will be sent to the Regional Director. You will receive a confirmation shortly afterwards.
If you (or someone speaking on your behalf) prefer, you can contact the Regional Director directly by e-mail, telephone or letter, you will find contact details on the website. An application form will be sent to you on request. This should be completed and returned to the Regional Director. You will receive a confirmation shortly afterwards by whichever method you prefer (e-mail, telephone or letter).
The Regional Director will provide dates for forthcoming intensive courses which still have places available for new students.

Is there a cure for stammering?
Unfortunately there is no known cure for stammering. What we provide is a proven method of controlling your stammer rather than your stammer controlling you.

You say that the goal for students of the McGuire Programme is eloquence. Why do you aim for eloquence and not for fluency? What is the difference?
Many people who stammer – perhaps most – enter stammering therapy wishing to become fluent. After years of negative speaking experiences, this is understandable. However, it is a paradox that fluency, when pursued above all else, can be a self-defeating goal.
Much more productive is to start with self-acceptance. Learning to accept ourselves fully in the role of people who stammer can be challenging, but it is the crucial first step beyond stammering. Interestingly, by taking the focus away from fluency as a primary objective, fluency is often achieved as a by product.
We aim for eloquence because we want you to take pride in your role as a speaker. Indeed, many of our members are involved in public speaking organisations such as Toastmasters, Association of Speakers Clubs, and Rostrum. McGuire Programme graduates regularly win public speaking awards.

I’ve read the information on this website about the McGuire Programme, but I’m still undecided whether to apply. May I speak to some graduates of the programme?
Yes. We encourage all potential applicants to do this initial research. Contact the Regional Directors and he will provide you with phone numbers of graduates who are happy to share their experiences of stammering and recovery. Also, you will be very welcome to attend our Open Days or Support Groups to ask questions, find out more about us and to speak to some graduates in person.

What qualifications do you have?
We are not qualified speech and language therapists. Our coaching staff includes a number of medical practitioners, psychologists and counsellors and we often draw on their expertise. More importantly, however, we consider our personal experience with stammering and our demonstrated commitment to assist others over the long term as a significant qualification in its own right. The Programme is continuously reviewed and developed by trained Programme staff who, by constantly observing and working with many kinds of stammerers, consulting with professionals and learning from other sources, seek to improve its effectiveness.

I made preliminary enquiries about the programme but was “put off” by the fee.
Our fee for lifetime membership of the programme including the three-day intensive course and our comprehensive follow-up support is €1,100. Accommodation on the three-day course is additional and works out at about €200 twin share for three nights.

The lifetime membership fee includes:

• The initial three-day intensive course – the start of the journey to eloquence.
• A certified, personal primary coach who will assist in your recovery.
• Unlimited attendance at any number of subsequent three-day intensive courses to strengthen fluency and techniques at the rate of €20 per day up to a maximum of €60 for the three full days.
• Unlimited access to weekly or fortnightly support group meetings in your area.
• Unlimited, extensive support via the telephone coaches list (national and international) and unlimited access to our e-mail discussion list.
The fee is not payable until the second day of your first course. Because we want you to feel comfortable about your decision to join the Programme, we give you time and opportunity to assess the effectiveness of the Programme for yourself. Only then will you decide, quite freely, whether to continue.
In many cases, employers in the public and private sectors are willing to contribute all or some of the Programme fee for employees.
On our own initiative and at our own discretion, we continue to offer scholarships in cases of financial hardship.

There are numerous courses/treatments available for stammerers. Is the McGuire Programme different to other programmes?
Yes, we are different from all other programmes in that:
• Everybody involved in the McGuire Programme, its founder, coaches, instructors, administrators, etc., have gone through the experience of stammering and the experience of attending the courses.
• We are the only private organisation in Ireland that deals exclusively with stammering.

• There is no other therapy programme that empowers its graduates to help other stammerers and ultimately become coaches, instructors, and regional directors.

• We radically and positively alter people’s lives to such an extent that in a mere two and a half days students can be transformed from out of control stammerers to being in total control of their stammer for the first time in their lives.

• There is strength, honesty, and depth in our unlimited, lifetime support network.

• The techniques taught are sustainable as the Programme has existed for over twelve years and graduates have achieved awards and recognition from speaker’s clubs such as Toastmasters. These graduates compete with ‘fluent speakers’. Details are on our website: www.stammering.ie

I’d like to encourage a friend to participate in the McGuire Programme. How can I convince him or her of its value, or am I better advised not to push the issue?
It has to be your friend’s decision and he must approach it with ownership, commitment and a passion to do something about his speech. If that’s not the case we’d rather not see him to be honest. We’re not interested in a quick three-day fix that will see him fluent for 2-3 months; we’re concerned about his long-term recovery!

I imagine my friend would find the concept of attending a course daunting/intimidating. How are such ‘fears’, apprehensions overcome?
When people attend their first course, they quickly realise they are among friends, fellow stammerers who have experienced all the difficulties, all the embarrassments and fears that they too have suffered. The Programme is a supportive, self-help “community” that continues to extend worldwide. During courses, we are all presented with challenging situations, but we don’t ask people to do anything we don’t think they can do or that we have not done ourselves. All activities are optional. We also encourage family members or partners to come along to sit in on the course, or parts of the course. The more they know about the Programme, the more they can do to help and support their loved one during recovery.

What is the best way for us to support our friend?
Just accept and love him or her unconditionally but also provide them with information about options available to him to improve their communication. Encouragement is important but I emphasise the ownership to do something has to be with him or her

How many people have joined the programme?
Over 1000 people have joined the programme in Ireland and several thousand worldwide.

How many finish the programme?
Approx 20% give up if they have a relapse after the course…..they expect the “magic pill” and don’t accept that THEY have the major role to play in the recovery process.

What is the success rate?
We have a 80% success rate meaning people are continually advancing with their speech and are doing things now they wouldn’t have dreamt of doing before the course.
This statistic is based on detailed and comprehensive success evaluations which are carried out every three months and verified by a McGuire instructor from outside the region.

What is considered a success? Do graduates stop stammering completely?
As there is no known cure for stammering, we gauge a successful graduate as being free from stammering in most situations with just the occasional reminder of their past affliction. Basically, it is being in control and having fun in most speaking situations.

What is the most common cause of failure (to give up stammering) by attendees at the programme?
The biggest problem is that a few students leave the three-day course 100% fluent and feel they are “cured”. Therefore they don’t use the technique we teach them, don’t practise the breathing, don’t go out and face their fears and challenging situations and they relapse. They then feel they have failed and the McGuire Programme hasn’t worked for them and go off looking for the next ‘magic pill’ instead of getting back into it, making the effort required and following their coaches’ directions, etc.

Typically, how many people participate on a course at one time?
A typical course has about 20-25 new students with about 40-60 returning graduates attending at any one time. The graduates return on the courses to help the new students and also to strengthen their own recovery. Part of the recovery process is helping others to recover. The majority of the course time is spent in one to one tuition.

Do you have regular breaks each day of the course?
Yes. We break for 10 minutes after every 50 minute session. This is to ensure that the information given is retained. It also gives an opportunity to ‘freshen up’. There are also extended breaks for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

I heard that the course days are very long. Why is that?
Recovering from stammering requires honesty, discipline and hard work. On a McGuire course we cover both the physical and psychological aspects of stammering as well as practicing the techniques in public. This is to give you the best possible initial start on your road to recovery. Generally, sessions begin most mornings at 7.30am and we usually finish up most evenings at approx. 9.30pm.

I heard that I will have to speak from a soapbox in a public place at the end of the course?
Nobody is forced to do anything he or she is not comfortable with. However, on completion of the course the confidence of participants is such that they feel well equipped to speak publicly with the support of their fellow-participants. The sense of achievement experienced as a result makes the exercise more than worthwhile!

Why run the courses from Wednesday to Saturday – why not Thursday to Sunday?
This is to make sure that students get off to the best possible start in their recovery. We have seen too many students whose speech fell apart on their first day or days back at work because of exhaustion on finishing the course on Sunday afternoon.

It is our experience that having a free day to rest and to consolidate what’s been learned before facing the challenges of the working environment are invaluable in the recovery process.

Why is their a minimum age of fourteen to attend the courses?
Our courses are intense and some of our teaching methods are too advanced for a child younger than fourteen years of age. Children of fourteen years of age and over are generally well capable of understanding and implementing our teaching methods and are able to work well in a group environment.

I plan to attend the next course and I live relatively close to the hotel that the course is taking place in. Is it possible for me to commute to the course each day instead of staying in the hotel?
We insist that ALL students accommodate in the hotel for the course duration. Recovery from stammering needs to be given total commitment and concentration within a controlled environment during the early stages. Outside influences, such as contact with family members/friends/strangers, may impede the recovery process.

If you have any other specific questions that are not answered here, please telephone, write or email me at anytime. I will be only too willing to answer them.