VR practice for stuttering, trans voice training, and speaking situations that feel hard

First, one important thing

Therapy withVR was made to be used by qualified speech-language professionals with the people they support. It was not built to be used solo or with a friend, and I do not want to set it up that way. The professional in the room is what makes the difference.

If you already work with a speech-language professional, please put us in touch. Email hello@withvr.app with a few words about what you would want to practice, and who your therapist is. I will talk with them about whether Therapy withVR is a good fit, and how a first session could look.

If you don't work with one yet, the community organizations below can help you find one, and offer a great deal of support in the meantime.

What it actually feels like

You put on a Meta Quest headset. You find yourself in a cafe, a classroom, a meeting room, or one of the other places available. There are characters - avatars - that look and move like people. You can hear them. They respond to what you say.

Your therapist, on a laptop, chooses who is in the scene, what they say, how loud the background is, and how easy or hard it is. You two agree in advance what you want to practice. They can pause the scene any time you need it. You can take the headset off any time.

No one judges. No one cuts in. No one finishes your words for you. It is practice, at a pace you set, in situations you choose.

Who this tends to help

• People who stutter, practicing situations that feel more challenging in real life.
• People doing voice work (trans speakers, public speakers, teachers, or anyone who wants to practice before a specific moment).
• People recovering from a stroke or brain injury (including aphasia), practicing everyday situations at their own pace.
• People with social anxiety around speaking, wanting a lower-stakes space before the real thing.

Honest notes

• It is not a cure. Therapy withVR is a practice tool. It helps you work through what matters, under conditions you and your therapist shape together.
• You will need a headset. A Meta Quest 3S is about $350 / €350 / ~£310 (sold directly by Meta - withVR does not sell hardware). One-off purchase. The software subscription is €49/month (ex. VAT, when billed annually). Multi-year discounts available.
• Start small. Pick the smallest situation first. One avatar, neutral mood, quiet background. Build up from there with your therapist.
• AI is optional. The software has some optional AI features (translation, AI-generated avatar text). They are off by default. Your therapist will only turn them on if you have agreed, and you can ask them to be turned off any time.

Community

If you stutter, five organizations I would point you to. All run by, and for, people who stutter. A great place to find peer support, find a therapist, or simply not feel alone:

• FRIENDS - The National Association of Young People Who Stutter (US). Annual convention, regional events, and monthly virtual groups for young people, families, and professionals.
• National Stuttering Association (NSA) - The largest non-profit dedicated to people who stutter (US). Local chapters, an annual conference, and a therapist-finder.
• SPACE - Online creative arts and community programs for young people who stutter, ages 7 to 25.
• STAMMA - The British Stammering Association (UK). Free helpline, webchat, and a member community open to anyone aged 16 or over.
• Stamily - An international community for adults (18+) who stutter and their allies. Online and in-person Stamily Cafes around the world for connection, peer support, and shared stories.

If you would like to help shape a future user community around Therapy withVR, email me at hello@withvr.app.

For trans voice training and gender-affirming voice work

If you are working on your voice as part of gender-affirming care, the published evidence is encouraging. Leyns et al. 2025 (Journal of Voice) reported a pilot RCT in which VR-based practice in gender-affirming voice training increased willingness to communicate with strangers. Therapy withVR is used alongside a qualified voice clinician - it does not replace the voice work itself, but it gives you a practice space for using the voice you are working on, with strangers in scenes that feel real.

For finding a voice clinician who specializes in gender-affirming voice work, ASHA Special Interest Group 3 (Voice and Upper Airway Differences) and the LGBTQIA+ Affairs Committee maintain referrals. The community of trans voice teachers (e.g. Renée Yoxon, Olivia Flanigan) is also a useful starting point for resources outside the clinical pathway.

How to find a clinician who uses VR

1. If you have a clinician already, ask them. Bring this page, or the plain-language handout. Many clinicians using Therapy withVR started because a client asked.
2. If you don't, start with your professional body's "find a clinician" tool: ASHA ProFind (US), RCSLT (UK), Speech Pathology Australia, or your country's equivalent.
3. For population-specific directories: NSA, FRIENDS, STAMMA, Stamily, and Selective Mutism Association each maintain a clinician finder for their specific population.
4. Or email me. hello@withvr.app. Tell me your location, what you would want to practice, and any clinician you already work with. I keep an informal list of clinicians using Therapy withVR and can point you to the closest match where one exists.