How Strategic Psychotherapy and Hypnotherapy can support calmer, easier speech
Some days, the words are there, and your mouth will not move. Other days, they tumble out in a rush, and you wish you could gather them back. Stuttering, or stammering, can make everyday conversations feel like hurdles. It is not a sign of low intelligence or a lack of effort. It is simply the way your speech system is firing in that moment. And yes, there are ways to make it easier.
In Australia, people usually say stuttering. In UK, many people say stammering. The experience is the same. You might notice repeats at the start of a word, a sound that stretches longer than it should, or a full stop where nothing comes out at all. When that happens, tension often builds in the jaw, throat or chest. You may blink, look away, or feel your shoulders rise.
None of this means you are doing anything wrong. It means your nervous system is working too hard.
Hello, I’m Mary Galanis
As an accredited Strategic Psychotherapist and Clinical Hypnotherapist, passionate about helping you navigate and resolve life’s challenges with a practical yet compassionate approach. I understand how Stuttering can leave you feeling debilitated, overwhelmed, with deep physical and emotional limitations. I aim to empower you with the tools and treatments that are required to heal and regain control.
With a focus on tangible results, I offer personalised treatment plans using a variety of proven methods like Hypnosis, EMDR for trauma, Psychotherapy, and Somatic Healing, ensuring your holistic well-being is always at the centre of our work together.
Clinical Hypnotherapy and Strategic Psychotherapy are recognised by medical professionals as proven, safe, and effective methods for treating Chronic Pain and many other issues. My goal is to empower you, offering tailored treatments to help you to regain peace of mind, quickly and effectively.
When I’m not helping clients, I enjoy spending time with my two adult daughters, practising yoga, and relaxing with my two cats. I believe in continuous growth—both in my personal life and in my practice—always striving to help you become a well-balanced and the best version of yourself.
We work together on your tailored treatment for your unique journey to better wellness. Here’s to better and better.
Treating Stuttering with Hypnotherapy and Psychotherapy
Why does it happen, in plain language?
Researchers point to a mix of influences. There is often a family link. There are differences in how the brain coordinates the tiny movements of speech. It usually shows up in early childhood, and for some people it eases as language skills mature, while for others it lingers.
Stress and pressure do not cause stuttering, though they can make it louder. A busy meeting, a new person, a phone call you have been dreading, and the pattern tightens.
The emotional load is real. You may plan sentences in advance, avoid tricky words, or dodge certain situations. Work can feel harder than it should. Dating, interviews, even ordering coffee can be a lot. Over time that grind can dent confidence. It does not have to stay that way.
Where hypnotherapy fits
Speech pathology remains the primary treatment for stuttering. Hypnotherapy is not a replacement for that care. What it offers is a complementary path that settles the body, softens fear and reshapes the private stories that make speech feel risky. Think of it as building better conditions for fluent speech to emerge. When anxiety reduces and self talk becomes kinder, the system has more room to move.
Hypnotherapy for stuttering works with the subconscious mind. In a calm, focused state, you stay awake and in charge while the usual noise turns down. That makes it easier to learn new responses. Instead of bracing for a block, your body practises breathing low and slow. Instead of a harsh inner voice that says this will go badly, you hear a steadier line that says I can take my time. The more often you rehearse that experience, the more your nervous system learns it for real life.
What a session is like
You will sit comfortably and close your eyes if you wish. There is guided relaxation and gentle imagery. You might picture a scene that usually tightens your speech. The team meeting. The phone call. The moment your name is called. In that scene, you practise three simple things. A softer breath into the belly. One clear thought at a time. A calm first word. You are not forced to speak in the room. You are not pushed past your limits. You learn how to feel safe again while you speak.
Between sessions, you use tiny experiments. A beat of silence before your first word. Slower pace for the opening sentence. Permission to switch a word if it helps you stay steady. These are small moves that add up.
Two short stories
Liam works in IT and dreads stand-ups. He knows his update and still freezes on the first word. In hypnosis, he practises the moment the attention comes to him. He imagines looking at one friendly face, letting his shoulders drop, and starting with I have two quick points.
He repeats that sequence until the body believes it. Two weeks later, he notices the first word arrives more easily. Not perfect, just easier. That is progress.
Priya teaches dance. Phone calls are hard. She avoids them and then worries she looks unprofessional. In sessions, she rehearses dialling, listening to the ring, and speaking after one breath out.
She keeps a small note near her phone that reads pace, pause, proceed. After a month, she is making calls she used to put off for days. She still stutters at times and feels calm enough to continue. That is the win.
What tends to change first?
People often notice fewer spikes of panic around speaking. The body settles sooner after a sticky moment. There is less replaying a conversation for hours. You feel more willing to join in rather than planning the perfect sentence in your head and missing the moment.
Blocks may still occur, though they carry less fear and pass more quickly. Confidence grows because you are no longer fighting yourself.
Why this help the mechanics of speech?
When fear drops, muscles release. The jaw loosens. The tongue has a better range. Breath has more space. In hypnosis, you rehearse a slower entry into words so you do not slam on to the first sound. You practise letting the voice ride the breath rather than pushing through it.
Over time these become habits you can rely on, especially at the start of sentences when things are most fragile.
Working alongside speech therapy
If you are already seeing a speech pathologist, hypnotherapy can support the techniques you are practising. Many people use it to reduce anticipatory anxiety, to handle difficult days with more self compassion, and to keep showing up for the real work.
It is also helpful for people who conquered the mechanics long ago but still carry fear in high pressure settings.
A note on expectations
There is no single timeline. Some people feel lighter within a few sessions, others notice gradual gains over a longer period. The goal is not flawless speech. The goal is freer speech, steadier nerves and a kinder relationship with your voice. On difficult days, you will still have tools that make a difference.
If you are considering hypnotherapy for stammering or stuttering
You do not have to become a different person to speak well. You do not need to force fluency. You need a calmer body, a clearer plan and an inner voice that backs you.
Hypnotherapy gives you a place to practise those things until they feel natural. When you are ready, we can talk through your history with stuttering, what triggers it, what has helped so far and what a realistic next step looks like.
Your ideas are sound. Your voice is welcome. Let us help it feel that way.
Success Stories
I stutterd from a child. As long as I can remember. I was bullied in school. I had low confidence. At work I needed to present to my clients. I needed this resolved. I enjoyed the hypnotherapy. Mary was wonderful. I still listen to my recordings.