Transgender communication Beth has a particular interest in working with transgender people, having seen many clients undergoing transition. Communication therapy is a key part of planning or going through gender transition, and is helpful for people transitioning to either female or male. Sessions can be used to modify your communication style so that you feel more comfortable when interacting with other people.
What are the differences between male and female communication styles? Although vocal pitch is a major difference between male and female voices, there are many other communication factors that contribute to a person being read as male or female. These include differences in intonation (the rise and fall of the voice), body language (such as sitting style, or use of the hands when talking), and language choice (such as use of adjectives and emotive words).
What sort of person are you? It is important that your communication style matches your personality and how you present yourself in the world. There is no clearly defined 'male' or 'female' way of communicating, as we all exist on a gender spectrum based on who we are, our backgrounds and cultural beliefs. Everyone has a different personality and communication style, and we often communicate differently depending on context such as work or home. Beth tailors therapy specifically to your goals, so that your communication style is aligned with who you are, and feels natural and normal.
Gender diverse or non-binary clients Speech pathology is not only for people who are transitioning from one gender to another. It can also be helpful for people who want to make small or subtle communication changes, for example, making their voice deeper or changing their body language so it is more aligned with how they want to communicate.
Check out a lecture from UCLA about male to female voice feminisation and health by clicking here
TESTIMONIAL "I’ve been attending voice lessons with Beth as part of my gender transition. Seeing Beth has been one of the best decision I have made. Throughout Beth has been kind and sensitive with the knack to encourage me to push through discomfort while also making me feel perfectly safe, supported and affirmed. When I started with Beth my voice sounded unnatural and my throat would become sore when I tried to sound feminine, and I never sounded feminine anyway. Beth has given me the tools I needed to gain conscious control of what I was doing with my voice and I really appreciated that she could explain what was happening with my voice at a mechanical level. My voice is now naturally feminine in ways that go beyond mere pitch to include things like intonation, timbre, volume and resonance. Just as importantly, I’m now using my voice in healthy and sustainable ways. For the first time I sound to myself the way I feel I should – that has been immensely empowering." Imogen, October 2017.