Our Team

Tim Mackesey

Founder & Lead Therapist

Georgia licensed and nationally certified speech-language pathologist since 1992, Tim Mackesey, CCC-SLP, BCS-F/Mentor specializes in the evaluation and treatment of fluency disorders in Atlanta. As a severe stutterer for more than 20 years, he is well aware of the milestones it takes to transform speaking skills and to unleash confidence as a communicator.

With a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Master's degree in Speech Pathology from Georgia State University, he has continued his education as a graduate clinician at the internationally recognized Successful Stuttering Management Program at Eastern Washington University in 1991 and as a graduate of the Stuttering Therapy Workshop for Specialists at Northwestern university in 1995.

Tim is a Master Practitioner of Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) and Neuro Semantics (NS). He taught the graduate-level Fluency Disorders course at Georgia State University. Tim is committed to the pursuit of effective treatment for stuttering. He has appeared on many television and radio programs in the Atlanta area educating on the early detection and treatment of fluency disorders.

When not working one-on-one with his clients, Tim may be found delivering workshops nationally and internationally. Tim offers leading edge stuttering therapy for all ages. Early intervention can often stop, or greatly minimize, the potential impact of stuttering.  

For older children and adults who have often developed anxiety related to their stuttering, Tim delivers cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) often missing in other therapies.
If you are an adult who gave up on speech therapy, know that new solutions are waiting for you.

Adult Success Stories

Sarah Barron

Associate & Therapist

Sarah Barron, M.Ed., CCC-SLP, is passionate about helping people who stutter. Stuttering runs in her family and it provided the inspiration for her vocation. She is experienced in treating stuttering in preschoolers, school-age children, and adults. 

Prior to obtaining her graduate degree in Speech Pathology, Sarah was an established pre-kindergarten teacher with Carroll County Schools. During her teaching career, she was recognized as her school’s Teacher of the Year. Sarah’s undergraduate background in Early Childhood Education manifested a deep appreciation of the partnership amongst patient families, the SLP, and school staff when treating children who stutter.

Sarah obtained her Master’s degree in Speech Pathology from the University of West Georgia in 2018. While balancing her college coursework, clinical assignments, and volunteer work with Tim, Sarah obtained her practitioner certification in Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP).

She has attended stuttering conferences and events with the National Stuttering Association (NSA) and helped organize several Raise Your Voice, Inc. stuttering seminars. Sarah completed both medical externship assignments at this practice with Tim’s mentorship.

She has had numerous experiences treating stuttering in preschoolers, school-age children, and adults. Sarah personally used the F.A.S.T. fluency program to resolve her daughter’s stuttering.

Sarah is dedicated to providing leading-edge stuttering therapy. She intends to pursue board certification in fluency disorders. Sarah will continue to seek opportunities to advance her specialty knowledge in the field of stuttering. 

Katie Brewer

Associate & Therapist

Katie Brewer, M.S., CCC-SLP, was inspired to pursue a career as an SLP following her own journey with stuttering. Katie grew up with a severe stutter that affected her ability to communicate comfortably and confidently. As a person who stutters, Katie knew early on that she wanted to work exclusively with people who stutter and help them find their voices.  Katie was Tim’s client in middle school.

Katie earned her Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Georgia State University in 2021. While completing her graduate coursework and clinical assignments, Katie worked as a research assistant in the Stuttering and Bilingualism lab at Georgia State. Katie is experienced in treating stuttering in preschoolers and school-age children. She also provides articulation therapy and is a PROMPT trained therapist.

Katie has participated in research conferences and has been invited to lecture on stuttering at the university level. She has also spoken at stuttering awareness events such as screenings of the award winning documentary “When I Stutter.” Katie endeavors to become a board certified specialist in stuttering.

With a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Master's degree in Speech Pathology from Georgia State University, he has continued his education as a graduate clinician at the internationally recognized Successful Stuttering Management Program at Eastern Washington University in 1991 and as a graduate of the Stuttering Therapy Workshop for Specialists at Northwestern university in 1995.

Tim is a Master Practitioner of Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) and Neuro Semantics (NS). He taught the graduate-level Fluency Disorders course at Georgia State University. Tim is committed to the pursuit of effective treatment for stuttering. He has appeared on many television and radio programs in the Atlanta area educating on the early detection and treatment of fluency disorders.

When not working one-on-one with his clients, Tim may be found delivering workshops nationally and internationally. Tim offers leading edge stuttering therapy for all ages. Early intervention can often stop, or greatly minimize, the potential impact of stuttering.  

For older children and adults who have often developed anxiety related to their stuttering, Tim delivers cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) often missing in other therapies.
If you are an adult who gave up on speech therapy, know that new solutions are waiting for you.

Adult Success Stories

Prior to obtaining her graduate degree in Speech Pathology, Sarah was an established pre-kindergarten teacher with Carroll County Schools. During her teaching career, she was recognized as her school’s Teacher of the Year. Sarah’s undergraduate background in Early Childhood Education manifested a deep appreciation of the partnership amongst patient families, the SLP, and school staff when treating children who stutter.

Sarah obtained her Master’s degree in Speech Pathology from the University of West Georgia in 2018. While balancing her college coursework, clinical assignments, and volunteer work with Tim, Sarah obtained her practitioner certification in Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP).

She has attended stuttering conferences and events with the National Stuttering Association (NSA) and helped organize several Raise Your Voice, Inc. stuttering seminars. Sarah completed both medical externship assignments at this practice with Tim’s mentorship.

She is experienced in treating stuttering in preschoolers, school-age children, and adults. Sarah personally used the F.A.S.T. fluency program to resolve her daughter’s stuttering.

Sarah also provides articulation therapy. She is a PROMPT trained therapist and has completed the Beckman Oral Motor Assessment and Intervention Workshop.

Sarah is dedicated to providing leading-edge stuttering therapy. She intends to pursue board certification in fluency disorders. Sarah will continue to seek opportunities to advance her specialty knowledge in the field of stuttering. 

Katie earned her Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Georgia State University in 2021. While completing her graduate coursework and clinical assignments, Katie worked as a research assistant in the Stuttering and Bilingualism lab at Georgia State. Katie is experienced in treating stuttering in preschoolers and school-age children. She also provides articulation therapy and is a PROMPT trained therapist.

Katie has participated in research conferences and has been invited to lecture on stuttering at the university level. She has also spoken at stuttering awareness events such as screenings of the award winning documentary “When I Stutter.” Katie endeavors to become a board certified specialist in stuttering. 

Defining a Specialist:

Like the medical field, speech-language pathology (SLP) is broad and is comprised of generalists and specialists. Would you go to a cardiologist for a knee injury? We have professionals in sign language, swallowing disorders, articulation, voice, stuttering, and so on.

What is an ASHA Board Recognized Fluency Specialist?
The American Speech-Language and Hearing Association (ASHA) recognized the need for specialty recognition in the complex area of stuttering treatment. A Specialist has a minimum of 5 years experience as a certified SLP. In addition, we have documented training and treatment experience specific to stuttering. Letters of recommendation and testimonials of our proficiency are necessary for acceptance. A Specialist must then meet stringent continuing education standards and documentation of our ongoing treatment of stuttering.

An ASHA Specialty Mentor is the highest recognition given by ASHA to a specialist. These Mentors are carefully chosen and are responsible for helping certify younger SLPs desiring specialty recognition. In addition to the specialization criteria, Mentors must have documented supervision and training of SLPs in the area of fluency disorders.

Tim Mackesey is the only SLP in Georgia to be honored as a Specialist and Specialty Mentor. He is the only Board Certified Stuttering specialist with a full-time private practice, Atlanta Area Stuttering Specialists, dedicated to stuttering treatment in Georgia.

Tim, serving as president of Georgia Speech-Language and Hearing Association, meets with Georgia Governor, Sonny Perdue, as he signs a proclamation to declare May as Better Hearing and Speech Month.