The Founder

Expert by experience.

I'm Gareth Walkom · BSc(Hons) MSc MBCS · Founder & CEO of withVR

I'm a person who stutters, a researcher, and a software developer. I build virtual reality tools for speech-language professionals - as someone who needed them. Since 2016.

Invited speaker at the Digital Wellbeing Summit 2022 (Dammam) - a program that also featured Simon Sinek, James Clear, Marc Randolph, and Mo Gawdat.

Enquire about a keynote

Or email gareth@withvr.app directly.

Spoken in, in person or virtually

16 Countries with paying customers

18 US states with paying customers

120 Events spoken at since 2016

3 Peer-reviewed studies using withVR

22 Countries spoken in

"You have already had an impact. You are known in the stuttering community and well respected."

- Nancy Barcal, MA, CCC-SLP · Director, Granite Bay Speech · USA

Affiliations, partners & recognition

The George Washington UniversityResearch Affiliate

MetaAR/VR User Research Panel

British Computer SocietyProfessional Member (MBCS)

Nottingham Trent UniversityAlumni Fellow

GoogleSupported

OrangeSupported

NHSSupported

European CommissionSupported

BBCFeatured in

The IndependentFeatured in

TrendsFeatured in

Plural PublishingContributor

Awards

European Patient Digital Health Awards 2023Winner, Category 2 - Mental Health & Social Support

NHS Digital Innovation Excellence AwardUsing VR to empower young people who stammer

XR Awards 2024Finalist (two categories)

2Gether-International Tech CohortPitch Competition Winner

Advised 19 research projects in 2025 · 18 in 2024 · 15 in 2023 (many multi-year)

Contributor

Artificial Intelligence, Automation, and Extended Reality in Speech-Language Pathology

By Nerissa Hall and Michelle Boisvert · Plural Publishing · 2025

I contributed to this book. I co-wrote a section of the introduction - Nerissa wrote the past, Michelle the present, and I wrote the future - and contributed a chapter on use cases of XR in speech-language pathology.

View the book at Plural Publishing

What I'm known for

The threads that run through my research, speaking, and advisory work.

Virtual Reality & AI for Speech Speech Technology & Digital Therapeutics Stuttering & Speech Differences Mental Health & Accessibility Digital Inclusion HealthTech Eye-Tracking Medical Product Design Software Development Public Speaking Consulting

Approach

The principles behind everything I build.

Barriers are in environments, not in people

Communication access is not about fixing individuals. It is about designing better environments. Read more about the framework that shapes the editorial voice across this site.

Customization to the individual is essential

Pre-made, fixed scenarios lead to individuals losing interest. Every VR speaking situation should be shaped around how the individual perceives their own experiences.

The clinician stays in control

Technology should extend what clinicians can do, not replace clinical judgment. Everything in Therapy withVR is controlled by the professional in real time.

Participation matters more than performance

How much someone talks or how fluently they speak is not the full picture. Being part of something and contributing on your own terms is what matters.

What people say

From the inbox - clinicians, researchers, and educators around the world.

"Your creativity and all you do enable better outcomes for the people I work with."

Nicola MaddySpeech and Language Therapist, South West Yorkshire Partnership Teaching NHS Foundation Trust, UK

"It's so awesome how open you are to ideas for updates."

Amanda Worek, MS, CCC-SLPAssistant Professor, MGH Institute of Health Professions, USA

"My students mentioned again how much they loved your presentation."

Marileda Tome, PhD, CCC-SLPAssociate Professor, Andrews University, USA

"It is such a pleasure seeing how much you are respected and appreciated here in Saudi and beyond."

Nerissa Hall, PhD, CCC-SLP, BCS-AACDirector of The Speech Language and Literacy Center at Tate Behavioral, USA

Speaking Topics

Three signature talks, adaptable to research, clinical, healthtech, and general audiences.

Building VR for People Who Stutter

Lessons from shipping Therapy withVR - what worked, what didn't, and what it takes to build clinical technology that clinicians actually use. For healthtech, XR, product, and SLP audiences.

Expert by Experience

How lived experience reshapes clinical technology - and why "nothing about us without us" is more than a slogan. For healthcare, accessibility, inclusive design, and leadership audiences.

VR in Speech-Language Pathology

Evidence, ethics, and what comes next. A grounded look at where the research stands, what VR can and cannot do for communication therapy, and the questions the field still needs to answer. For academic, clinical, and research audiences.

Each talk is tailored to the event and audience. Enquire about a keynote → or email gareth@withvr.app.

The Journey

From a university research project to a tool used in clinics, hospitals, and universities worldwide.

2013 - 2016

BSc Digital Media Technology - Nottingham Trent University

I began researching VR for speech therapy as part of my undergraduate thesis. My first pilot study found that objective stress was replicated inside VR and anxiety decreased over sessions.

2016

First published research

I published "Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy: To Benefit Those Who Stutter and Treat Social Anxiety" at the IEEE International Conference on Interactive Technologies and Games. This early research informed the development of what would later become Therapy withVR.

2016 - 2017

MSc Medical Product Design - Nottingham Trent University

My master's thesis used virtual reality with integrated eye tracking - through the Fove 0, the first consumer headset with built-in eye tracking - to objectively measure gaze behaviors in people who stutter during social interaction. I built a custom Unity measurement system that captured both gaze distribution across the scene and eye closure duration in real time. The manuscript is currently under peer review.

2018 - 2020

PhD in Engineering Technology - KU Leuven (Belgium)

I was awarded the FWO Strategic Basic PhD Grant from the Research Foundation Flanders. In 2020 I left academia to build withVR full-time - because clinicians and researchers needed the tool now, not in four more years.

2020 - Present

Founded withVR BV

I founded withVR BV on 22 October 2020 - International Stuttering Awareness Day - and put all of my savings into the idea. From there I built Therapy withVR from the ground up alongside clinicians, researchers, and educators worldwide.

2025

Contributor to book published by Plural Publishing

I contributed to "Artificial Intelligence, Automation, and Extended Reality in Speech-Language Pathology" by Nerissa Hall and Michelle Boisvert. I co-wrote a section of the introduction - Nerissa wrote the past, Michelle the present, and I wrote the future - and contributed a chapter on use cases of XR in speech-language pathology.

2025

First RCT published using Therapy withVR

Leyns et al. published the first randomized controlled trial using Therapy withVR in the Journal of Voice, studying VR for gender-affirming voice training.

2026

First keynote address

I delivered the keynote "Life Is A Video Game" at Valid Gains Through Video Games (VGTVG) at Monmouth University, New Jersey - a conference exploring the intersection of video games, technology, and speech-language therapy.

"I always admire the story behind withVR. I am a big fan!"

- Tjitske Hofstee-Bootsma · Speech-Language Therapist, De Stotterpraktijk · Netherlands

Selected Publications

Research by Gareth or using Therapy withVR. Click through to the Evidence Hub for plain-language summaries, findings, and certainty ratings.

Virtual Reality as a Tool in Gender-Affirming Voice Training: A Pilot Study

Leyns, C., Bosschem, L., Papeleu, T., Sabbe, L., Walkom, G. & D'haeseleer, E. (2025). Journal of Voice. Uses Therapy withVR.

Read summary in the Evidence Hub →

The Effects of Visual Input in Virtual Reality on Voice Production

Dasdogen, U. & Hitchcock, J. (2026). Journal of Voice. Uses Therapy withVR.

Read summary in the Evidence Hub →

Influences of Attentional Focus on Speech Variability

Bauerly, K. R. & Jackson, E. (2024). Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research. Uses Research withVR.

Read summary in the Evidence Hub →

VR for Aphasia, Dysarthria, and Apraxia - An ASHA Tutorial

Stark, B. C. (2025). Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups. Names withVR in the tutorial.

Read summary in the Evidence Hub →

Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy: To Benefit Those Who Stutter and Treat Social Anxiety

Walkom, G. (2016). IEEE International Conference on Interactive Technologies and Games. Early research that informed the development of Therapy withVR.

Read summary in the Evidence Hub →

Artificial Intelligence, Automation, and Extended Reality in Speech-Language Pathology

By Nerissa Hall and Michelle Boisvert. Plural Publishing, 2025. Contributor: co-wrote a section of the introduction and contributed a chapter on use cases of XR in speech-language pathology.

View book →

See All Research Using Therapy withVR

Speaking & Conferences

Gareth has presented, exhibited, and spoken about VR for communication therapy at events worldwide. Recent in-person events include:

Keynote

Valid Gains Through Video Games (VGTVG) 2026

Monmouth University, New Jersey, USA. Keynote: "Life Is A Video Game: What I've Learned From Navigating The Levels as a Person Who Stutters."

Invited Speaker

Digital Wellbeing Summit 2022

Dammam, Saudi Arabia. One of approximately 65 invited speakers on a program that also featured Simon Sinek, James Clear, Marc Randolph, and Mo Gawdat.

Invited Speaker