Advanced Practice for Vocal Affirmation

Join for a two-day virtual course to elevate your identity-affirming voice practice! Presented by the Vocal Congruence Project.

Held online, May 15th & 16th, 9:00am - 5:30pm EST!

This course will address advanced topics in identity-affirming voice care. Presented in both didactic sessions and interactive activities, advanced topics will include vocal identity development, meta-therapeutic dialogue promoting behavioral change, and a thorough exploration of cultural context. Participants will also receive in-depth training in resonance, weight, and other technical aspects of voice in this two-day workshop.

Who this course IS for:

• Voice providers (SLPs, singing instructors, etc) already offering voice services for the transgender and gender diverse community.
• Providers seeking material beyond the common “101” course offering
• Providers open to having their existing ideas and practices examined and expanded.
• Providers looking to shift from being a “competent” voice provider to a “specialized” voice provider
• Providers who want to make all of their services identity affirming, regardless of population.

Who this course is NOT for:

• Providers looking for a beginner level overview
• Providers with zero direct experience providing identity-affirming care.
• Providers looking for a fixed curriculum, plug-and-play, or one-size-fits-all approach
• Providers not committed to transgender liberation

Participants should come prepared with core knowledge of the mechanisms of voice production, cultural competency for TGD communities, and a set of personal experiences with providing affirming voice care, all of which will be the basis for discussion and reflection.

Meet Your Instructors:

Leah Helou, PhD CCC-SLP (she/her) is a speech-language pathologist and assistant professor in the University of Pittsburgh Communication Science and Disorders Department. She has over 20 years of clinical experience working with the trans and gender diverse community.

Her research centers the theme of “mind-voice pathways,” encompassing human stress responses, communication behaviors, and various facets of personality and identity across basic and clinical research methodologies.

Dr. Helou has trained hundreds of providers in affirming voice as an instructor of “Gender Affirming Voice Training: A Course for Voice Clinicians,” the first and leading training opportunity in gender-affirming voice work for the decade it was offered.

Nora Mahon, MS CCC-SLP (she/her) is a Pittsburgh-based speech-language pathologist specializing in voice and upper airway disorders.

Nora holds an MS in speech-language pathology with a concentration in voice from the University of Pittsburgh. She has presented with the Trans Voice Initiative, TransPride YOUniting Health & Wellness Conference, and more.

Nora’s experience with gender-affirming voice and communication extends to her own voice. As one of few transfeminine SLPs, she has firsthand experience creating and sustaining her voice.

Outside of her role as an SLP, Nora is the Director of Camp Lilac, summer camp for trans and gender diverse youth, and Vice President of the Camp With Pride Scholarship Foundation.

Ashley Davis, MS CCC-SLP (she/they) will also present a section addressing gold standard care in the peri-operative context of phonosurgery. Ashley is a Speech-Language Pathologist and Assistant Professor in the Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery at Johns Hopkins University.

In 2017, she spearheaded the development of a clinical pathway between the Johns Hopkins Voice Center and the Johns Hopkins Center for Transgender and Gender Expansive Health, advancing integrated, multidisciplinary care for transgender and gender expansive patients. Her research focuses on pre- and post-operative surgical voice experience in adult populations.

As an associate member of the International Association for Transgender Voice Surgery (IATVS) and WPATH, Ashley has presented nationally and internationally on surgical voice procedures and associated clinical care, with a sustained commitment to cross-disciplinary collaboration, holistic care models, and evidence-based practice to optimize patient outcomes.

Course Structure

This course will follow 4 general modules. Please see the detailed agenda below for specific topics.

Friday Morning - IDENTITY

We will discuss the science of identity formation, the universality of identity affirming voice care, and dysphoria’s impact on behavioral change.

Friday Afternoon - META-THERAPY

We will discuss how clinical dialogues shape the therapeutic process, and how we can harness our language to guide clients through obstacles and blocks.

Saturday Morning - ADVANCED TECHNIQUE

We will cover the latest developments on understanding and cueing resonance and vocal weight, as well as techniques for reducing cognitive load and achieving “naturalness.”

Saturday Afternoon - COMMUNITY & CONTEXT

We will explore unique considerations for the present political and social moment including how to engage with online resources, understanding niche populations, and maximizing impact in a restrictive environment.

Learning Objectives & Outcomes

Upon completion, participants will receive a certificate of completion and an exclusive badge on their VCP provider profile.

Speech-language pathologists are eligible for 1.4 ASHA CEUs upon completion of the course. In order to qualify for ASHA CEUs, participants must:

• Attest to completion up to 30 minutes of study prior to the event (materials to be provided in advance)
• Attend the live webinar in its entirety (recordings and slides will be available for 30 days following the course, however, self study is not an option for CEUs)
• Complete a course assessment within one week of course completion

It is not possible to earn partial ASHA CEUs for this course.

Recordings and materials will be available for 30 days following conclusion of the course.

Learning Objectives:

• Participants will describe 3 core tenets of identity formation and maintenance and how each is relevant to communication.
• Participants will develop clinical dialogue aligned with each of the 5 meta-therapeutic goals for use in their identity affirming practice.
• Participants will demonstrate and cue advanced techniques to modify vocal resonance, weight, prosody, and nonverbal communication.
• Participants will identify ways to optimize care provided in settings with limited support and/or resources.

If you’re still wondering if this course is for you:

Think back to the last few times you felt “stuck” with a patient seeking a more affirming voice. Why was that? How did you troubleshoot it? And, do any of the topics or ideas here feel connected to that moment?

Our goal is to give you more confidence, more tools, and more knowledge, all the things that translate into better outcomes for your clients and less stress for you. You won’t just know how to do an exercise. You’ll know why you might do it, several ways to cue it, and how to make meaningful modifications to support your client, reducing the guesswork for you and maintaining the buy-in of your client.

Still on the fence? Let’s talk about it. Email info@vocalcongruence.org with your questions.

Disclosures

Nora Mahon is a salaried employee of UPMC. She is a paid contractor with GenderSphere (DBA Camp Lilac) and Prismatic Speech Services. She receives a stipend from the University of Pittsburgh for clinical instruction. Nora is a co-creator of the Vocal Congruence Project and receives a portion of registration fees for this course.

Leah Helou is a salaried employee of the University of Pittsburgh with clinical teaching duties at the UPMC Voice Center. She receives royalties from MedBridge, Inc. for material related to gender affirming voice and communication training. Leah is a co-creator of the Vocal Congruence Project and receives a portion of registration fees for this course.

Ashley Davis is a salaried employee of Johns Hopkins University. They are a payed presenter for this course.