The Feminine Voice | Perspective on Therapy Options

A new take on feminine voice therapy from a speech-language pathologist (SLP)

I don't think you need to change your voice. I believe that everyone brings their unique communication style to the world and that there is not one inherently better way of speaking. I say this as someone whose entire career relies on other people needing help in changing their communication. I do, however, believe that there are millions of people who want to change their voice and speech for very good reasons, and so I help them. My position has shifted over the years and the way I operate has adjusted to be more person-centered and not about putting people in boxes. Here are some ways that I support people in finding their feminine voice.

Listen & Learn

Instead of assuming anything, I ask them to take the lead with their targets. What is their priority, is it passing, feeling generally better, wanting to sound a little differently? Do they really want their pitch to go as high as possible, do they want to learn the traditional language rules we have established in our culture, or are they good with where they are at? It isn't up to me to determine these things and it is also something that can change. My job is to ensure that we are always on the same page. If something had been working, but my client decides that she now focuses on something else, then I follow suite.

Ditch the App

It is common to use a pitch app in sessions, as pitch stabilization is often a goal. However, there are plenty of cases where it actually works better to not stare at a screen and track live Hz levels. It can be distracting or disheartening. Sometimes, looking away and feeling in your body, which is ultimately what we want to do anyway, is best. It can help when the Hz target is a range or a perceived sound, versus, "Try to hit and maintain this one number."

Add Emotion

This is a relatively new area of our field and while there are continuing education courses on the topic, SLPs can get stuck in a certain mindset. We are trained to assess and treat disorders, but finding your feminine (or masculine) voice is not a disorder. Therefore, it takes a different approach. Instead of teaching one way of communicating, I let my clients experiment with more than just their conversational in office voice. We add anger, confusion, hesitation, confidence, soft, and loud voices. We all need to be able to yell across the street or sound excited or hurt with our new voices.

If you want help finding your true voice in a non-judgmental space, sign up for services here.

Initial Assessment for Gender Voice

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