What to expect in your first voice therapy session

Starting your voice therapy journey can be intimidating at first, especially if you’re not sure what to expect. Importantly, your first session with your voice therapist will be different from all your future treatment sessions. This initial meeting will be used to evaluate your voice and establish goals. Below are a few topics that will be covered.

Interview 

It’s important for your voice therapist to learn as much as possible about your vocal health and relevant medical history. This includes job history (are you a teacher who talks all day, or do you have exposure to harsh chemicals?), medical history (do you have acid reflux or asthma, have you ever been intubated?), and support network (is there someone who you might feel comfortable practicing your voice with outside of our sessions?). 

During this interview, we will never ask you any questions that are not directly relevant to voice therapy, and you will always have the opportunity to let us know if a question makes you feel uncomfortable. 

Collecting data

Collecting data is an important part of the evaluation process, as it helps us to set appropriate goals. When establishing these initial targets, we need to consider the limits of your own anatomy. For example, selecting pitch targets that are too high or low can cause strain and potentially damage your voice in the long run. When collecting data, we might ask you to perform simple, easy voice tasks like reading aloud a short passage or telling a short one minute story. 

Goal setting

You and your voice therapist will work together to establish goals that both reflect your identity and respect your vocal health. We will ask how you feel your voice sounds currently (somewhat feminine, very masculine, androgenous, etc.) and how you would prefer to sound. While not required, you are also free to provide an example of a celebrity or friend whose voice is comparable to how you would like to ultimately sound.

Your first assignment!

Before we delve into using our voice strategies, it is important that each client establishes a good understanding of how to keep their voice healthy. This includes ensuring adequate water intake, learning about what foods can trigger irritation of the vocal cords, as well as discussing the importance of vocal rest. Building healthy voice habits from the start will prevent any potential setbacks during your voice journey. 

If you have any other questions or concerns about beginning voice therapy, please feel free to reach out to us through our contact page, Instagram, or via email at authenticvoicesllc@gmail.com.