Presenters

Elizabeth Kapstein

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​Elizabeth is a person who stutters and a licensed clinical social worker living in New York City. Elizabeth has been involved locally and nationally with stuttering self-help organizations for 20+ years.

​Elizabeth focuses on working with the whole person and specializes in trauma- and addictions-informed therapy using expressive therapies at ektherapy.com. Her email is elizabeth@ektherapy.com.

Nora O'Connor

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Nora is a person who stutters and living in Los Angeles, California. Nora, Jeff and Elizabeth met in the stuttering community over for 20 years ago. She has been a NSA chapter leader, co-chaired FRIENDS conference (2004), Passing Twice leader (LGBT who stutter), published articles, workshop facilitator, featured in two documentaries, a guest on Stutter Talk and much more. During her career, as a licensed clinical social worker, she began recognizing the clinical interventions she was using with her clients were also helping her live better as a stutterer.

Along with treating addiction, trauma, mood disorders in her private practice, she now provides therapy specifically for people who stutter. Nora also works at Wesley Health Clinics as a medical social worker. She is trained in Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Mindfulness and Trauma Resiliency Model.

​Contact Nora NOConnorLCSW@gmail.com

Jeff Shames

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Jeff is a clinical social worker and writer who has presented at numerous conferences for people who stutter. With Elizabeth Kapstein, he co-founded the Manhattan Stuttering Group in 1994. 

A native of Tulsa, OK, in 2004 Jeff co-produced the award winning personal documentary film Spit It Out. In 2017 the film is being streamed online to reintroduce the film to new audiences in the stuttering and other communities. Sample footage can be seen on You Tube at “Spit It Out Jeff Shames." He can be reached at spititoutfilm@gmail.com.

​He is a psychotherapist at Lighthouse Guild, and lives in New York City with his wife, Elisa DeCarlo.


​Breathe. Release, Stutter!