Counseling to treat stuttering is most common in adults. This treatment can help manage problems that have developed as a result of stuttering, such as low self-esteem. Psychiatric counseling may be used alone or with speech therapy and is recommended when:

• A mental health disorder, such as social anxiety, is suspected to be the primary cause of stuttering.
• The person is not a good candidate for speech therapy because of a coexisting problem, such as severe depression.
• Speech therapy has not improved stuttering.
• A stuttering relapse occurs shortly after completing a speech therapy program.