Fear of stuttering (psellismophobia)

Psellismophobia is a fear of stuttering. Some people with this fear already stammer and dread the moment it happens in front of others, while others have never stammered but worry they will start. Either way, phone calls, introductions and speaking in meetings can feel much harder than they need to.

About this phobia

The term is built on psellismus, an older medical word for stammering taken from Greek. It is rarely used outside lists of phobias. It sits close to glossophobia, the fear of public speaking, and to wider social anxiety.

What it feels like

• Swapping words at the last second to avoid sounds that feel risky
• Avoiding phone calls, ordering at a counter or saying your own name
• Tension in the jaw, throat or chest just before speaking

Explore more unusual fears in the rare phobias A to Z, or browse the common phobias.

Common questions

Can a fear of stuttering make a stammer worse?

For many people the worry and the stammer feed each other, as tension and avoidance tend to build over time. Easing the fear does not remove a stammer, but it can make speaking feel less loaded. Speech and language therapy, available through the NHS, is the main route for the stammer itself.

How can you help?

I use hypnotherapy and NLP to change how your mind responds to the thing you fear, so the old alarm stops going off. Sessions are one to one over Zoom, and you get a recording of the hypnosis to listen to afterwards.

How many sessions will I need?

Many clients notice a real difference after one 90 minute session. If the fear goes back a long way, three sessions gives us room to make the change stick.

Ready to start?

Book a £49 consultation call and we’ll talk through your fear, or take the free suitability test first.

See all session options and prices