Voice Workshops

Last updated:
03/2023

An Introduction to Gender-Affirming Voice

The Laurels Gender Identity Clinic Speech and Language Therapists are collaborating with us as part of their support for people waiting to access care. Three specialists in gender affirming voice/vocal therapy at The Laurels will help you understand a little more about voice in general and ways to improve your comfort with your voice.

In the session there will be an opportunity to explore your voice in a safe environment and to talk with people with lived experience of having gender affirming voice therapy.

Some of the areas we will cover are:

• What is voice?
• The challenge of change
• Perspective of people with lived experience
• Practical voice exploration
• Q&A and final thoughts

This is an introductory session and so may not be useful for those of you who are already receiving voice therapy or are already working to a framework that works for you.

Online Group

• Tuesday 5th December, 5-7pm on Zoom (you’ll be sent the zoom link after signing up)
• You can sit with a friend next to you if that makes you feel more comfortable
• You don’t have to participate if you don't feel able - feel free to just listen

Sign up here!

Who can attend?

This is for those who are wanting to know more about gender affirming voice therapy. It will prioritise those who are on The Laurels Gender Identity Clinic waiting list. It is also for adults only.

Who is running the groups?

Gillie Stoneham (she/her) is a Consultant Speech and Language Therapist in Gender Affirming Voice. She also has a background in voice coaching within wider contexts.

She has worked in this field since 2006 and has co-authored 2 books on this specialist topic that foreground the voices and stories of people with lived experience. She is a member of the British Association of Gender Identity Specialists and has presented at conferences both nationally and internationally.

Gillie is passionate about all things voice and about supporting people to benefit from exploring their own voices.

Kevin Pasternak (he/him) is an Advanced Specialist Speech and Language Therapist in Gender Affirming Voice.

Kevin loves helping people to experience joy in using their voices. His background is in voice performance, and he taught singing for several years. He then trained and qualified as a speech and language therapist.

Kevin found mentorship in gender affirming voice exploration as part of his training and went on to develop a gender affirming voice service as part of an integrated trans health programme in the United States. He has previously collaborated with theatre arts and art therapy professionals to create holistic voice workshops.

Lizzie Jenner (she/they) is an Advanced Speech and Language Therapist working in Gender-Affirming Voice Therapy. They are currently working towards a Postgraduate Diploma in Gender Identity Healthcare Practice. They are a member of the British Association of Gender Identity Specialists and the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists’ Clinical Excellence Network in Trans and Gender-Diverse Voice and Communication Therapy.

Lizzie loves supporting people to try out a range of voice and communication techniques in order to develop a personalised toolkit for long-term voice and communication exploration. As a student they volunteered at voice and communication workshops offered via LGBT Foundation. They got the bug and this quickly became their area of interest. After qualifying as a Speech and Language Therapist they moved into gender-affirming voice work in 2021 where they have stayed ever since.

Previous events:

• Online April 5th 2023
• In person in Bristol on 4th June 2023