What is Gender Affirming Voice Therapy?

March 24, 2023

Erin Vollmer MS, CCC-SLP

Erin Vollmer is a speech language pathologist and co-founder of TherapyWorks, she has been practicing in pediatrics for over 20 years.

Gender affirming voice speech therapy is a specialized form of speech therapy that is designed to help individuals who are transgender or non-binary to modify their voice and speech patterns in order to better align with their gender identity. This type of therapy can be an important part of the transition process for individuals who are seeking to live authentically and comfortably in their gender identity.

Many transgender and non-binary individuals may experience dysphoria, which is a sense of discomfort or distress that arises from a discrepancy between one’s gender identity and the gender assigned at birth. Dysphoria can manifest in a number of ways, including discomfort with one’s voice and speech patterns. For individuals who are transgender or non-binary, changing their voice and speech patterns to better match their gender identity can be an important step in reducing dysphoria and feeling more comfortable in their own skin.

What are the goals of gender affirming speech therapy?

Gender affirming voice speech therapy is a type of speech therapy that is specifically designed to help individuals modify their voice and speech patterns in order to sound more like their gender identity. This type of therapy is provided by a speech-language pathologist who has experience working with transgender and non-binary individuals.

The goals of therapy may vary depending on the individual’s needs and goals. Some individuals may want to completely change their voice and speech patterns in order to sound more like their gender identity, while others may simply want to make subtle changes in order to feel more comfortable and confident in their speech.

One of the first steps is an assessment of the individual’s current voice and speech patterns. The speech-language pathologist will typically conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the individual’s voice quality, pitch, resonance, and speech patterns in order to determine the areas that need to be addressed.

Based on the assessment, the speech-language pathologist will develop a personalized treatment plan that is tailored to the individual’s specific needs and goals. This may involve a variety of techniques and exercises designed to help the individual modify their voice and speech patterns.

What techniques are commonly used in gender affirming voice therapy?

Commonly, gender affirming voice speech therapy involves voice feminization or masculinization. Voice feminization involves modifying the voice in order to sound more feminine, while voice masculinization involves modifying the voice in order to sound more masculine. Exercises are designed to help the individual adjust their pitch, resonance, and speech patterns in order to create a more gender-appropriate voice.

Therapy also involves work on pronunciation, intonation, and other aspects of speech that reflect the individual’s gender identity. Individuals learn to reduce any speech patterns that may be associated with their gender assigned at birth, such as using filler words or speaking in a monotone voice.

Transitioning can be a challenging and emotional process, and having access to supportive resources can be an important part of the journey. Many speech-language pathologists who provide gender affirming voice speech therapy also have experience working with transgender and non-binary individuals and can provide a safe and supportive environment for their clients

Is gender affirming voice speech therapy necessary for all transgender or non-binary individuals?

Gender affirming voice therapy may not be necessary or desired for every transgender or non-binary individual. Some individuals may feel comfortable with their voice and speech patterns as they are, while others may prefer to modify their voice and speech in other ways, such as through voice training or surgery.

To learn more, or schedule an appointment with a gender affirming voice specialist, reach out to TherapyWorks. We would be happy to discuss your specific needs and tell you more about our incredible team of therapists. TherapyWorks provides speech, occupational and physical therapies in-home and via teletherapy.