This is a text version of the audio file on 'BSA conference calls: Bob Bodenhamer - creating mental pathways'.

"I want you to pick a time, like when you're by yourself, when you do not stammer. You do not fear what other people might think about you. You're not concerned with looking like a fool. I want you to just put yourself mentally back into that place where you speak fluently.

"Just put yourself there, and notice how you're thinking. What kind of thoughts are you having, in that place of being fluent. Notice how you're feeling. You're probably quite relaxed. Your stomach's probably relaxed. Your diaphragm area is relaxed. Your breathing is relaxed. Your chest is relaxed. Your neck, throat, jaws, all relaxed.

"Now then, I want you to just imagine - take a few seconds - and run through your mind that experience of being relaxed. Notice what you see, hear and feel, notice how you're talking to yourself, be aware of your mental state of mind.

"OK, now then, I want you to just imagine yourself out in public somewhere, maybe you're by yourself at a restaurant. You're by yourself at a restaurant, sat on your table by yourself. Nobody around, no danger of anybody coming up talking to you. And I want you to access that same state of what it's like to have that relaxed feeling. What you see, hear and feel, how you're talking to yourself, being totally completely relaxed.

"Now then, imagine a trusted friend - one that you may block sometimes but not too often around - walks in the front door and comes back and sits down with you. You have breathing, so now I want you to sit there just a second - and I want you to put yourself back into that relaxed state. Imagine you're by yourself at home, you're relaxed, seeing what you see here and what you hear, feeling what you feel, and how you're talking to yourself, being totally and completely relaxed with your friend, your trusted friend.

"Now then, let's go to work or wherever you normally block, like making a phone call, or going to the store, talking to the teller, whatever. Just go to that place - but wait. When you get there, don't go up. Just stand back just a minute. Don't go up to the teller or waitress or boss man - step back. And I want you to access that same state, being by yourself, how you're totally completely relaxed. Fear is absent, you're relaxed. You're not concerned about what other people think about you, you're not concerned about your speech, indeed you're not even thinking about your speech. You're just noticing how relaxed you are.

"And then, maintaining this same state of relaxation, go up to - or let that person that you stammer in front of come up to you - either one. So there you are in front of this person that you normally stammer with. And I'm thinking that you may be getting anxious. But just pause - give yourself permission to pause. Take a deep breath all the way down from your abdomen and just think how relaxed you are, and can be, at home. You're perfectly relaxed and calm, you couldn't care less what other people think about you. You're totally and completely relaxed. Speak to this person out of that state of calmness and relaxation.

"Now that's just a little strategy that you can practise. Instead of doing anticipatory anxiety, what about practising being relaxed while you're talking - knowing that every time you run the thought of relaxation through your mind you are deepening the understanding, new neural connections are happening, you are actually changing the anatomy of your brain, over and over and over. Just think how much time since you started stammering have you spent worrying about stammering, installing worry and fear about stammering, creating new neural connections about stammering. Let's take that time and, instead of doing that, let's run a fluent strategy - or you may want to develop some kind of a spiritual state - but a resourceful state of mind (come up with your own) - that's a state of mind that when you speak out of it you're totally fluent, you don't even think about how you're talking. You're totally focussed on the other person, what you're saying. That's the ultimate goal by the way. Totally focussed, never even thinking about stammering. Do not allow the rent-free space in your brain. Come up with a strategy, and practise it, instead of running fear. Experiment with it."

Bob Bodenhamer - creating mental pathways.