Guided Voice Feminization Program

FIND THE VOICE THAT IS IN YOUR HEART!

Our voice and communication style plays an integral role in how we perceive and express our identity. Regardless of your unique gender identity, having a voice that truly matches and aligns with your authentic self is critical for overall well-being, happiness, and confidence. For some transgender individuals, their voice may not align with their gender identity and gender expression, causing possible feelings of discomfort or dysphoria. This can affect a person’s quality of life, self-esteem, and fear of being misgendered.

Our clinical team has specialized interest and training in evaluating and working with transgender patients to provide behavioral vocal interventions. Much about voice that identifies gender relates to word choice, phrase structure, and intonation patterns. As with all evaluations related to voice and interpersonal communication, the assessment begins when you walk through the door. People are often unaware of habitual communication patterns. These habitual patterns convey more about gender perception than vocal pitch or quality alone. Therefore, pragmatics (social communication patterns) will be evaluated during the initial visit. In addition, vocal pitch, quality and resonance along with orofacial structure and musculature will be assessed.

As an interdisciplinary team (patient, family, physician, speech pathologist) we will identify areas to target to help you reach your voice and communication goals. This usually begins with behavioral intervention targeting communication patterns and easily accessible pitch range that allow the patient to produce an efficient voice that is more in line with their gender identity. Once these behaviors have been maximized then consideration can be given to surgery to alter pitch. The need for surgery is rare however, as most patients can achieve a gender authentic voice without surgical intervention, and with just Gender Affirming Voice Modification Therapy alone.

The way a person speaks can play an important role in how they express themselves. Voice and communication training can be helpful when aspects of a person’s voice and the way they speak do not match their gender identity or gender expression, according to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s (ASHA) resource on voice and communication services for transgender and gender diverse populations.External link:open_in_new

This can include individuals who identify as transgender, non-binary, gender nonconforming or other gender identities. Among transgender people, transgender women are more likely to seek gender affirming voice and communication training. 

Gender affirming voice care involves modifying different elements of a client’s voice to better reflect their gender identity and authentic self. When a transgender woman chooses to train her voice to sound more feminine, this process is called voice feminization. 

Deciding to change one’s voice is a personal choice. While voice feminization may be an important part of transitioning for some trans women, others do not feel the need to modify their voice at all and both experiences are equally valid. 

Although there are free voice feminization resources online, these can be frustrating and potentially damaging to the voice without professional guidance to ensure you are using effective techniques and training your voice in a healthy way. 

Individuals who have been working on feminizing their voice at home, through YouTube videos or free online guides, often express that they are not getting their desired results and have therefor sought out our professional clinical guidance. 

Certain ways of attempting to sound more feminine are unsustainable, damaging to the vocal cords and/or simply will not lead to a passable feminine voice. There are some common mistakes and misunderstandings that can prevent someone from achieving a natural and sustainable feminine voice including poor vocal hygiene, pushing pitch elevation, not incorporating intonation, not understanding the role of resonance, vocal straining and pharyngeal muscular tension.

There is no “right” or “wrong” way to find your authentic voice. There are, however, certain voicing techniques that may be unhealthy or frustrating without proper clinical guidance. If you are having trouble feminizing your voice on your own and would like to speak to a Licensed Speech/Voice Therapist about your voice goals, contact us and book an initial consultation today!