Dr. Patrick Briley’s Immersive Experiences Brings Confidence to Speech
For someone who doesn’t stutter, the idea of speaking up may seem simple. But for the roughly three million Americans who do, it can be a daily source of anxiety—one that shapes choices, relationships, and opportunities. Ordering food at a restaurant, greeting a coworker, or giving a presentation can feel unpredictable and stressful.
Dr. Patrick Briley knows that experience firsthand. “As a person who stutters, I know all too well the feeling of avoiding certain situations,” he says. “In middle school, high school, even college, I would be anxious about speaking. I’d think about what spaces I might have to talk in, and sometimes I just wouldn’t go.”
For years, people who stutter have relied on therapy sessions that teach speech modification techniques in calm, predictable settings. But when faced with real-world pressures—an impatient drive-through line, a classroom presentation, or wedding vows—the old anxiety often returns. “Traditional therapy doesn’t always recreate that emotional intensity,” Briley explains. “That’s where our platform comes in.”
Briley’s innovation uses what he calls a 360° immersive experiences—a virtual environments that places users in realistic, anxiety-provoking situations, such as speaking to a police officer, interviewing for a job, or ordering coffee. With the support of a clinician, participants can repeatedly practice these moments in a safe, controlled setting until confidence replaces fear.
“Speaking is largely an automatic process, but stuttering is a neurophysiological condition that disrupts the smooth progression of speech. Behavioral therapy teaches a person who stutters to adapt how they speak, yet applying these strategies in everyday situations is often more challenging than in the safety of a clinical setting. We’re teaching people to take conscious control over a subconscious behavior,” Briley says. “Through repeated practice in these immersive experiences, the speaker will become better able to use these new speech patterns, even when faced with the stress of social situations.”
The platform’s early tests have already impressed speech-language pathologists (SLPs) across the country. More than 40 clinicians have tried the prototype, with that number now approaching 70. One SLP shared that a student described practicing in a virtual coffee shop drive-through as “really scary.” Briley’s response: “That’s perfect—that’s the point.” Experiencing anxiety in a controlled space allows users to face it head-on and adapt, safely and gradually.
The immersive experience is part of a broader platform that also includes a learning portal where users can watch instructional videos, track progress, and receive clinician-guided feedback. The system’s next phase will feature HIPAA-compliant tools that help SLPs manage patient data, document progress, and streamline therapy notes—all while reducing administrative workload.
That development leap is made possible through support from NCInnovation, which is helping Briley and his team build out the platform’s next generation. “NCInnovation has connected us with experts who know how to strengthen the technology and make it more dynamic,” he says. “They’re also helping us gamify the experience, so it feels engaging and rewarding for the user.”
Briley envisions a day when anyone, anywhere, can access this kind of therapy—especially in rural or underserved regions where clinicians are scarce. “We already have kids in Indonesia using early versions of the platform,” he says. “This kind of technology can reach people who might never otherwise get help.”
As the project moves toward commercialization, the balance between innovation and empathy remains at its core. Briley credits NCInnovation’s project entrepreneur in residence (EIR) Julianne Roseman for helping guide that balance. “She’s been incredible—business-minded but with a real heart for the mission,” he says. “She helps us think about how to make this sustainable without losing sight of why we started.”
Ultimately, Briley’s immersive experience is about giving people who stutter something that often feels out of reach: the freedom to speak without fear. “We’re not just teaching speech,” he says. “We’re helping people rediscover their voice.”
