Who can benefit from voice therapy?

Gender affirmation voice and communication therapy is for anyone who feels that their voice does not match their identity. We can build an individualized therapy plan to help you reduce gender dysphoria and achieve a voice that is easy, sustainable, and true to who you are.

What do I need to get started?

Currently, all of our voice therapy sessions are conducted online using a HIPAA compliant video platform. You will need access to the internet and a device that has video and microphone capabilities (e.g. smartphone, tablet, laptop, desktop computer). No special equipment is needed, although we might recommend a journal or some free apps to help track your progress.

Do I need surgery or hormones to change my voice?

Surgery and/or hormone therapy are NOT prerequisites to gender affirmation voice and communication training.

Although hormone therapy can certainly help to deepen the voice for trans males, it often does not achieve great results on its own. Further voice training can help to fine tune vocal quality and produce a more desirable effect.

Surgery can be very expensive, and has many potential risks. Your voice may become too high pitched, rough, hoarse, strained, or breathy. Depending on the surgical technique, results can also include a narrowed airway and some promise only temporary results. Even after having surgery to change your voice, you may still need to work with a speech-language pathologist to be sure that you do not misuse your new voice and cause damage to your vocal cords.

What if I have other issues with my voice, speech, or communication?

While our main focus at Authentic Voices is helping the trans community, we are educated, experienced, and certified to treat any voice, speech, or communication disorder for any age population. If you are looking for voice modification, but have an underlying voice disorder, we will need to address that first to ensure that your voice is healthy. If you are not interested in voice modification, but are looking for a speech therapist who is passionate and informed about helping members of the LGBTQIA+ community, please reach out to us to learn how we can help.

What if I can’t afford therapy?

We understand that the trans and gender non-conforming community faces many barriers to receiving quality, informed medical and professional care. We believe that this should not keep anyone from finding their voice. If you are experiencing financial hardship, please contact us about options.