Gender affirming voice blog
Discover voice tips, announcements for events, videos stories about Christie’s clients, or press about New York Speech & Voice Lab.
Voice tips for video calls
Here are some tools and video set-up that can help you achieve and maintain gender techniques and healthy voicing while on a video call.
Free voice workshop in May (new date!)
On Thursday, May 1, 2025, 6:30 - 8:00 pm, I will lead a free gender-affirming voice workshop for anyone who is modifying their voice or curious about making voice changes.
Aligning your inner voice with your outer voice
The voice in your head may not have a sound to you, but if it does, it may sound more like an undesired, unmodified voice and less like the speaking voice that is changing and serving you better. In that case, aligning your inner voice with those outer changes may help you achieve more overall progress and vocal satisfaction.
Start and end well
Maintaining your chosen voice techniques can be challenging at any level of your gender affirming voice process. Are you starting to practice talking, and find it mentally challenging to think of what to say while also modifying how you sound?
Say NO to "no pain, no gain"
New vocal habits do not require that you push your voice hard. Instead, they demand precision and accuracy.
Free assertiveness workshop at online conference
Building communication skills for assertiveness and self-advocacy, General Track E, Saturday, July 23, 2022, 2:15 - 3:15 pm
Tracking your voice in different contexts
Have you noticed how your voice and communication can change depending on the situation? How do you talk to a coworker, boss, classmate, friend, family member, coffee shop barista, or pet? What words do you use? How does your voice sound?
Strained or tired voice? Sing through a straw!
Straw phonation, or making sound through a straw, is a common therapeutic exercise for vocal health problems such as vocal strain or tired voice.
Is changing your pitch enough? What testosterone can and can't do for your voice
Are you on testosterone but still feel unsatisfied with your voice? The pitch may not have dropped enough or there may be other ways you are still using your voice that can be perceived as feminine.
"Does it bring you joy?"
Here is a link to the 4/8/19 episode of Nancy, the critically-acclaimed podcast on WYNC that features stories and conversations about TGBTQ experiences:
https://www.wnycstudios.org/story/nancy-podcast-does-it-bring-you-joy
In this episode, one of the hosts, Tobin Low, a cisgender gay man, discusses how he came to see me in my office in order to verify if he was lowering his pitch on purpose to avoid sounding too feminine, and whether that was the cause of his vocal fatigue and hoarseness.
Getting feedback on your voice
Knowing exactly how your voice sounds is critical for modifying it in ways that work for you. But let's face it, it can be hard to know how you sound outside your own head. And it can be scary and uncomfortable to hear yourself or embarrassing to get feedback.
"Vocal therapy helps some transgender people find their voice"
Here is a radio news story that was broadcast about my client Alice Gorelick on The Pulse on National Public Radio, as part of the WHYY's series Our Bodies, Our Gender, September 7-8, 2017.
"How voice therapists are helping trans people sound like their true selves"
Here is an online news story featuring my client, Rebecca Oppenheimer, and her work with me on your voice, posted on Fusion.net today (8/17/16).
"Helping trans people find their voices"
Here is a video done by Laura Lumsden of Cosmopolitan.com about my work with two clients who are transfeminine and gender queer. Congratulations to Angel S. and Alex F. on their successes and a big thanks to them for sharing their stories.
Embrace your best possible self
Changing your voice and communication patterns to better conform to your gender expression can be challenging. This can be met with new, useful, and more satisfying ways of talking.