Stuttering & Stammering

How it shows up

Stuttering, or stammering, involves repeated sounds, syllables, or words, and sometimes blocks where speech stops entirely for a moment. It can happen more under stress, pressure, or in situations that feel high-stakes, like speaking up in a meeting or meeting someone new. Many people who stutter also carry real anxiety about speaking, which can create a cycle where the fear of stuttering makes stuttering more likely.

How hypnotherapy helps

Hypnotherapy doesn’t replace speech therapy, but it can be a strong complement to it. Pattie focuses on the anxiety, self-consciousness, and anticipatory fear that often surround stuttering, using relaxation-based hypnosis and confidence-building techniques to help clients feel calmer and less braced for failure before they speak. Reducing that underlying tension can make it easier to use the speech techniques you’ve already learned elsewhere.

What a session looks like

Every client starts with a free 20-minute consultation to talk through your specific experience, including any speech therapy you’re already doing. A session is $150, available at the Scottsdale office or over Zoom, and often comes with a customized recording to reinforce calm, confident speech patterns at home.

Common questions

Will hypnotherapy cure my stutter? No one can promise that, and hypnotherapy isn’t a replacement for speech therapy. What it can do is ease the anxiety that often makes stuttering more frequent or intense.

Should I still work with a speech-language pathologist? Yes — the two approaches complement each other well. Hypnotherapy addresses the emotional side; a speech therapist addresses the mechanics.

Does this work for both children and adults? Pattie works with adult clients directly on this; for a child who stutters, a family conversation during the consultation can help determine the right approach.