Blog by Güneş Yağız Işık
May 11, 2026

Many people join a stuttering support group with a clear idea of what they are looking for. Most of the time, they are looking for a solution to their stuttering. But in the beginning, most people do not find what they are looking for.

The first meetings are simple. You introduce yourself, listen to others, and then you leave. There is no strong connection and no deep conversation. It can feel ordinary and sometimes disappointing. This is where expectations and reality do not match.

To understand this, it helps to understand how support groups work. They are not structured environments where solutions are given. There is no step-by-step system and no clear outcome after each meeting. They are social spaces. People come together, share when they want, listen when they want, and slowly get used to being around others.

After some time, you start to see the same people again. You recognize faces. You may find yourself speaking to the same person more than once. These people are what make you come back. Without them, a support group can feel like a place you visit once or twice and leave. With them, it becomes a place you return to.

These small friendships start to affect your stuttering. You stay in conversations longer. You speak more freely. For example, you might tell a friend that you struggled during a job interview. They share their own experience and what helped them in a similar situation. Or you might talk about having difficulty during a presentation, and they explain how they handle it. This is where the real benefit starts. You gain friends, and you gain lived advice.

Over time, this turns into mentorship.

It does not start as mentorship. It starts as friendship and grows over time. You begin to talk to these people not only during meetings, but also when you need advice. At the same time, they are not only people you go to for advice. They are your friends. You talk about daily life, not just stuttering. This creates a different kind of support.

You improve your speech through these interactions, and you also build a social circle where you feel comfortable. In that sense, it is a win-win situation. You gain friendships, and through those friendships, you gain mentorship.

In our support group in Turkey, we meet every Sunday in Istanbul and spend time together. Over time, we become close friends. This helps people benefit in their stuttering.