Behavioral and cognitive therapy is the most common approach to stutter treatment. Such therapy usually involves the development of new speaking habits and attitudes towards speech, often including exercises in manipulating rates of speech, establishing new breathing patterns, practicing relaxation, and targeting troublesome sounds. Breathing control is often emphasized, which focuses on proper control of the diaphragm. Proponents of this method see uncoordinated movements of the diaphragm as the core cause of stuttering. Another area sometimes emphasized during speech therapy is Valsalva training, which is training that specifically targets blocks by focusing on the gaining of greater control on the bodily mechanism that produces a block by halting airflow, the Valsalva mechanism.
Also, during behavioral and cognitive therapy, efforts are made to increase confidence through repetition and positive feedback, to help alleviate the anxiety and fear associated with speaking. While individual or group therapy with a licensed speech pathologist is common, self-therapy is also a very popular practice, mainly due to its lower cost, convenience, and lower pressure. The stutterer invests in the necessary books or tapes and spends varying amounts of time per day doing exercises similar to the exercises used in professional speech therapy. Therapy usually provides some improvement to most individuals within a few weeks or months. But, like most therapy for other disorders or afflictions, it often requires constant attention and practice to maintain success. Other, less-accepted methods include everything from hypnosis to laughter to art therapy.