CHAMONIX OLSEN SIKORA – M.S., CCC-SLP, BCS-F

“I can help.”

I’m glad you’re here. There is hope. I can’t wait to meet you and get started!

CHAMONIX OLSEN SIKORA – M.S., CCC-SLP, BCS-F

ASHA Board Certified • Licensed in: CT, CA, NY, FL, MA, NJ

CHAMONIX OLSEN SIKORA
Group Therapy Session

Meet Chamonix

Board Certified Specialist in Stuttering

Chamonix Olsen Sikora has devoted her career in speech-language pathology to stuttering. She found her calling after completing a graduate internship at the American Institute for Stuttering in NYC with its founder, Catherine Montgomery. Chamonix entered the field in 2001 as a generalist working in Fairfield County Connecticut with children and adults who had various communication disorders, including stuttering. In 2003 Chamonix was honored to join the staff at the American Institute for Stuttering where she then worked until 2011, eventually becoming the executive director, and being mentored by the late and greatly respected stuttering specialist Catherine Montgomery. In 2006 she became a Board Certified Specialist in Fluency and later served on ASHA’s American Board on Fluency and Fluency Disorders. In 2012 Chamonix founded her private practice, Hope for Stuttering Speech Therapy. She was also an adjunct faculty member of the Department of Communication Disorders at Southern Connecticut State University for three years. Chamonix has presented on the topic of stuttering and has been a guest for a variety of media outlets. Chamonix graduated from Southern Connecticut State University with a Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology and from Messiah College in Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education. She holds multiple state licenses and has the national Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP) as awarded by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). She is also a member of ASHA’s Fluency Disorders Special Interest Group.
Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Board Certified Specialist in Stuttering?

Don’t all speech therapists work with stuttering? No! There are approximately 140 Board Certified Stuttering Specialists in the United States.

Stuttering is just one small area in the broad range of areas speech-language pathologists (speech therapists) treat. Research shows a majority of school speech-language pathologists indicate that they are not comfortable assessing and treating persons who stutter.  (St. Louis & Lass, 1981; Tellis & Tellis, 2003) nor do they feel adequately prepared managing children and adolescents with fluency disorders (Tellis, Bressler, & Emerick, 2008).  Unfortunately many generalists who are not prepared or comfortable treat those who stutter, which is a problem in our field. I’m a proponent of no therapy is better than bad therapy.

Our field has become very broad and now encompasses treating stroke clients, children with Autism, swallowing, transgender voice, early language development and the list goes on. Similar to medicine, a need for specialty areas arose. The very first area created (in 1998) under ASHA’s (American Speech Language Hearing Association) guidance was for Stuttering. This was established so speech-language pathologists with advanced knowledge, skills, and experience in stuttering, cluttering, and related fluency disorders; beyond the required Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) could be recognized by consumers, colleagues, and the general public.

A rigorous process was established by ASHA’s American Board of Fluency and Fluency Disorders to obtain board certification in fluency (BCS-F).  A speech therapist must already have their master’s degree and national certification along with several years of being in practice before being allowed to begin the process.  I started the process in 2003 and it took me three years to obtain certification. To maintain board certification, many ongoing client hours with those who stutter are required each year and advanced level continuing education requirements in the area of stuttering are also required.  Every five years a renewal process must be completed with evidence for client hours along with all continuing education credits plus annual fees.  Europe followed the United States and created their own program for specialists in stuttering.

Similar to medicine, if you have a heart problem, you go to a heart doctor.  When you stutter or clutter, it’s nice to know you can go to a board certified specialist.

Request Consultation
Board Certified Stuttering Therapist

Certifications and Training

A holistic therapist at heart, Chamonix is highly trained and qualified, integrating across fields and continuously thinking outside of the box.

ASHA Certified Badge

Certificate of Clinical Competence

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)

American Board of Fluency and Fluency Disorders

Board Certified Specialist in Fluency and Fluency Disorders (BCS-F)

American Board of Fluency and Fluency Disorders

HeartMath Certified Practitioner

HeartMath Certified Practitioner

HeartMath

Laughter Yoga International

Certified Laughter Yoga Leader

Laughter Yoga International

EFT INternational

EFT Level 1: Emotional Freedom Technique

EFT International

Primal Trust Member

Primal Trust Trained

Primal Trust Academy

WHAT CLIENTS SAY:

"Chamonix embodies the best that our profession has to offer: a caring, empathetic, dedicated, and kind clinical artist who is fully focused on the entire well-being of her clients. Working with Chamonix is not just about speaking or stuttering; it’s about pursuing a journey toward freedom, not just in communication but in life as a whole."
J. Scott Yaruss, PhD, CCC-SLP, BCS-F, F-ASHAPresident, Stuttering Therapy Resources, Inc.
"Dear Chamonix, This has been a radical, history-shifting time for me. It’s not common to receive a pair of wings… Thank you for working with me. You are patient, clear, and encouraging. You communicate respect and hope in a very powerful way. I couldn’t be more grateful!"
– Adult Female | Artist, Mexico
"I hope you realize how important you've been to me over the last couple of years. Beyond freeing me from my speech cage, the things you've taught me have impacted me positively...throughout my entire life. And I am more grateful for that than you will ever know.”
– Adult Male | NYC
"I called you in tears more than a year ago because I was unable to help my son "talk". I am amazed, seeing the results of all your work with him, how confident he has become. Thank you once again for being the consummate professional. We thank God for you, amazed at how He has worked through you to help our son!"
– Mother of Client | CT
"Chamonix, there are no words. My entire family loves you and the work you did with Darius. It changed the course of his life. There was never a time when he didn't want to come to therapy and he was always upbeat and happy when we left. We hit the jackpot with you and will forever be grateful. When I recently asked him what was the greatest part of his experience with you… he said, 'YOU'."
– Charisse D. | Mother of Darius, NYC
"We all pick our respective professions and get used to the work we do but in case you needed a reminder, I wanted to let you know how helpful you have been for me so far!!! I had a massive onsite presentation today and with the exception of one stutter I delivered flawlessly. My confidence is truly being restored and I was even able to manage the stutter well without getting caught up in my head. Just moved right on past it. Amazing to think that just 5 weeks ago I was feeling hopeless and avoiding situations because the stutter related anxiety was eating me up. I truly appreciate your help in this process. Thanks very much!"
Abe / Client
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Media Coverage and Appearances

USA TODAY

Chamonix Olsen Sikora stuttering specialist cited in article: Stuttering: A Constant Struggle to get the words out.
Read USA Today Article

NPR

Leonard Lopate show, Please Explain: Stuttering, along with Dr. Barry Guitar.
Listen on NPR

WNYC Radio

Barry Guitar, PhD and Chamonix Sikora, MS, CCC-SLP answer questions about stuttering.

Listen on YouTube

Media and Appearance Requests

Interested in booking Chamonix for a media, podcast or seminar? Then you’ve come to the right spot. Please
use the form below to submit your request and we’ll respond within 1-2 business days.

Stuttering Therapy Services

Choose which therapy format best fits you or choose all three.

Individual Therapy

INDIVIDUAL THERAPY

Individualized Therapy for Stuttering from the comfort of your own home. Explore Individual Therapy Services »

Group Therapy

GROUP THERAPY

Peer supported group therapy service in the comfort of your own home. Explore Group Therapy Services »

In-person group intensives

IN-PERSON INTENSIVES

Collaborative multi-day in-person sessions with peers in Connecticut. View Upcoming Intensives »

Frequently Asked Questions

Freedom. To be yourself. To say what you want to say. Confidence. Effective communication. Struggle free speech. Enjoying connection and communication. Choosing to live your life, your values and purpose, over choosing not to stutter.

I love getting to know each person and building a relationship with them. I love watching and helping someone get set free from fear and become who they were meant to be. I love bringing people who stutter together.  I love imparting hope and helping people who stutter to connect and feel the sense of belonging and community.

I have a very broad spectrum of knowledge and experience in a variety of areas that impact stuttering. I have my own unique story of overcoming fear and being set free. I have a deep understanding of the nervous system, how it can become dysregulated from experiences with stuttering, how to regulate it, and how the use of mood uplifting practices can aid in the transformation process. I think outside the box and bring in practices from other areas.

In the year 1999 I was given an assignment in my graduate stuttering course that changed my life and gave me great compassion for those who stutter. I was then offered a position to intern at the American Institute for Stuttering in NYC. I watched in awe as Catherine Montgomery, founder of AIS, expertly worked with teens and adults who stuttered. I knew it was my calling to work with people who stutter and that’s what I’ve done ever since.