A WOMAN who has struggled with a stammer for 20 years has told her story of transformation.

Until 18 months ago, Shelley Turner was unable to say her own name or order herself an Americano coffee.

The 28-year-old, who is currently studying at Bolton College, has had a stammer since she was eight years old.

The neurological speech condition left her 'isolated' and wanting to escape from her own body.

Miss Turner, of Blackford Bridge, Bury, said: "I felt trapped in my own skin.

"I wanted to be someone else.

"Stammers can be brought on by trauma or negative thoughts. But I didn't really know what caused it.

"It could have been growing up, trying to fit in, a negative mindset.

"But it grew in me a fear of wanting to speak and the words not coming out."

Miss Turner explained how she used to shut her eyes when speaking, avoid eye contact, and move her head forward.

At the age of 11, Miss Turner said she looked up to Gareth Gates because he was the only person she knew with a stammer.

The Pop Idol contestant famously used the McGuire Programme to overcome his speech problem.

The programme is the basis of the new ITV documentary School for Stammerers, which follows the story of six participants.

Miss Turner said her decision to embark on the McGuire Programme in August 2016 'changed her life'.

Founded in 1994 by Dave McGuire, a stammerer, the programme teaches students physical and psychological techniques.

"The course is run by people who stammer and the support given is just amazing," Miss Turner said.

"They understand how you feel. They understand your self-hate.

"It is like gaining another family. You are no longer alone."

One in 100 people has a stammer - more than 70 million people worldwide.

Miss Turner said: "Bury is a relatively small place. For a long time, I thought I was the only person with a stammer.

"But on each course, I have met between 40 and 50 people, all wanting to work on their stammers.

"The course is not a cure but we are taught a new way of breathing and techniques to control your speech.

"We also focus on the physiological side of stammering, and having a positive mindset.

"Joining the programme enabled me to follow my dream of training to be a counsellor."

Miss Turner is nearing the end of a part-time counselling course at Bolton College. It was her interaction with clients, in front of a mirror, which triggered the decision to join the McGuire Programme.

Miss Turner also works at St Bernadette's Roman Catholic Primary School, in Whitefield.

As someone who always wanted to work with children, she joined the school on a part-time capacity six years ago.

But the teaching assistant found tasks such as reading the register or saying good morning to her class a challenge.

"It was so hard. I couldn't even read a story to the children", she said.

"But when I returned to school after my first McGuire course, the headteacher could not believe the transformation."

Miss Turner said she struggled on day one of her four-day course in Newcastle.

On day two, she was standing on a soapbox in Newcastle's retail hub, Northumberland Street.

She has since been on courses in Liverpool, Birmingham, and Belfast.

During the Liverpool course, the group was asked to film themselves speaking at the start, and again at the end, of the four days, to highlight the contrast in their progress.

Ongoing support is then offered to students once they return home, with coaches making themselves available over Skype or by telephone.

Students are encouraged to speak to 100 people every day, such as asking directions to the shops, as a way of building confidence and putting techniques into practice.

Miss Turner said: "It sounds cliché, but the course really has changed my life.

"One of the main things for me is being able to say my own name, and ordering what I want at a restaurant, rather than resorting to the things I can say.

"I would end up saying 'please can I have a coffee' rather than 'please can I have a cappuccino'."

She added: "It was an emotional journey but I'm so glad I did it.

"I would not say I have overcome my stammer but I would say that I am well on the way to recovery.

"I would encourage people not to be afraid of who they are.

"I'm still someone who stammers but it teaches you to be proud of it. I'm comfortable. I'm able to be my true self."