An Interdisciplinary Approach to Gender Affirming Voice Training

ABSTRACT

This article describes a collaboration between a cisgender speech-language pathologist, a cisgender theatre arts voice practitioner, and a transgender art therapist to construct community-based voice feminization workshops. The evidence-based approach to speech-language pathology pairs well with the expressive methodologies of the theatre arts and the trauma-informed considerations of transpersonal art therapy. There are limitations to viewing gender affirming voice training solely from the lens of one discipline, and gatekeeping of resources is an issue for the transgender community. The literature about voice training presumes the highest discipline is that of the medical/scientific field and reinforces bias that undermines the rigor and legitimacy of the vast resource available in the expressive arts. When these biases and cisgender privilege are examined and humility is employed, powerful results can occur from collaboration. Specific exercises are described, and recommendations are made for practitioners wanting to offer similar programing for transgender people seeking vocal training.

KEYWORDS:

• Voice training
• gender affirming voice training
• transgender
• multidisciplinary
• trauma-informed
• collaboration

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed here

Acknowledgments

Thank you to Alex Corona, Transgender Program Coordinator at the Milwaukee LGBT Community Center for her collaboration on offering these workshops, and to the workshop participants for attending and generously offering feedback about their experiences. An additional thank you to Dr. Susan Thibeault, Medical Director of the Speech and Hearing Services at UW Health and the Diane M. Bless Endowed Professor in the Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, for her grant proposal mentorship and conceptual assistance.

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This project received generous support from the Ira and Ineva Reilly Baldwin Wisconsin Idea Endowment.

Notes on contributors

Colleen Conroy

Colleen Conroy is a white, cisgender, female assistant professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and earned a BA in acting and an MFA in voice studies from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in London, England. Colleen’s teaching/coaching experience includes the University of Connecticut, Connecticut Repertory Theatre, University Theatre, and Margaret H’ Doubler Performance Space. Current research and teaching interests include the application of Laban efforts in an integrative approach to actor training and applying theatre arts voice techniques to gender affirming voice training.

Owen Karcher

Owen Karcher, MA, LPC, ATR-BC, is a white, transmasculine, queer psychotherapist and has served transgender people in various capacities as an art therapist, researcher, advocate, and trainer. His international work as a consultant involves training providers to better serve LGBTQ and other oppressed populations through self-inquiry, development of critical, trauma-informed, systemic frameworks, analysis of identity, power, and privilege, and interpersonal skill-building for challenging bias.

Kevin Pasternak

Kevin Pasternak, MS, CCC-SLP, is a white, cisgender, male speech-language pathologist. He completed his master’s degree in communication sciences and disorders at Emerson College and his clinical fellowship at the University of Wisconsin Voice & Swallow Clinics. Kevin’s professional specialization is within the area of voice and voice disorders. He has further training and experience in gender affirming voice therapy.