Hypnotherapy for Stuttering

Professional hypnosis treatments for stuttering and speech problems at the Wombourne Clinic in Wolverhampton

Understanding Stuttering

Stuttering is a communication problem in which the flow of speech is broken by repetitions (li-li-like this), prolongations (lllllike this), or abnormal stoppages (no sound) of sounds and syllables.

There may also be unusual facial and body movements associated with the effort to speak. Stuttering is also referred to as stammering.

Interestingly, sufferers may not stutter or stammer at all when they cannot hear their own voice, for example when using headphones & listening to music on an i-pod and then speaking to somebody nearby.

This strongly suggests that the “self-evaluated feed-back” of hearing their own stutter plays a role in the event itself.

What causes stuttering?

There are a number of factors that have been cited to contribute to the development of stuttering, although positively identifying any particular cause does not necessarily mean an easy solution:

• Genetics – approximately 60% of those who stutter have a family member who does also
• Childhood development – children with other speech and language problems or developmental delays are more likely to stutter
• Neurophysiology – recent neurological research has shown that people who stutter process speech and language slightly differently than those who do not stutter
• Family dynamics – high expectations and fast-paced lifestyles may contribute to stuttering
• Environmental social factors – growing up with stressed and angry parents – parents shouting at their children

Stuttering may occur when a combination of factors come together and may have different causes in different people. It is probable that what causes stuttering differs from what makes it continue or get worse.

Is stuttering caused by emotional or psychological problems?

Children and adults who stutter are no more likely to have psychological or emotional problems than children and adults who do not.

However, it is interesting that when a client suffering from a stutter or stammer first experiences Hypnosis, very often the stutter or stammer recedes due to the deep level of relaxation that Hypnosis offers.

Often a stutterer has placed themselves under so much “internal pressure” that the problem could almost be described as “Anticipatory Anxiety”, a process we examine and discuss at length in our Thrive Programme.

Stutters or stammers are also often the result of Social Anxiety and almost certainly exacerbated by a sense of being judged or feeling “on the spot”,

Hypnotherapy for Stuttering

Hypnotherapy is highly effective in helping individuals discover and utilise their inner strengths and resources to address issues related to speech blocks.

This form of therapy empowers individuals to take charge of their own progress, similar to other therapeutic methods.

Typically requiring between six to ten sessions, hypnotherapy for stuttering focuses on how past experiences, core beliefs, and values have influenced and perpetuated speech difficulties.

The relaxing nature of hypnosis facilitates the exploration of memories and experiences pertaining to speech, encouraging a re-evaluation that can lead to more positive responses and outcomes.

Stuttering Hypnotherapy for Young Adults

Research into 18–25-year-olds seeking therapy found that there are a number of barriers to help-seeking including difficulty identifying the problem, concerns about stigma, preference for self-reliance and uncertainty about where to go for help.

At Wolverhampton Hypnotherapy we have developed two distinct pathways to address these specific limitations, firstly a page dedicated to hypnotherapy for young adults and secondly, a page outlining how parents can help their son or daughter access therapy without taking-over or imposing the need for therapy upon them.