Navigating Trans Voicing

Matthew Mills (he, him/they, them) is gay, queer and identifies as cis-liminal. He is Lead Consultant Speech and Language Therapist and Head of the Speech and Language Therapy Service at the largest and oldest gender identity clinic in the UK (Tavistock and Portman Gender Identity Clinic for Adults, London) where he has worked since 2009. He is a National Adviser in Trans Voice for the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists, and a founder member of the Trans Voice Clinical Excellence Network (CEN). Natasha Stavropoulos (she, her) is an openly trans female psychologist and therapist. Natasha is a regular educator and trans awareness trainer for speech and language therapists in practice and in training for the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists Clinical Excellence Network (CEN).

List of Figures

List of Tables

Foreword by Barbara Aster

Foreword by Megan Berrisford-Green

Acknowledgments

Introduction

You, the Readers

We, the Authors

Book Features

50 Key Points

I: Setting the Scene

1. The Non-Binary World of Sex

2. The Non-Binary World of Gender

3. Starting with You

4. Terms to Help and Guide

5. A Damaging History of Pathologisation

6. The Harm of Othering

7. The Power of Owning

8. Author Dialogue ‘Under the Microscope’

II: The Risks of Visibility

9. Coming Out & Safety

10. Transitions & Temporality

11. To Name Change or Not to Name Change?

12. Author Dialogue ‘The Dark Before Dawn’

III: Transphobia & Community Response

13. Widespread Erasure

14. Pride & Trans Joy

15. Author Dialogue ‘The Pearl in the Oyster’

IV: The Advocate Bridge

16. Life Commitment

17. Why Pronouns?

18. Actions Towards Allyship

19. Author Dialogue ‘Walking with and Taking the Hit’

V: Overview of Gender-Affirming Medical Interventions

20. Hormones & Surgeries

21. Author Dialogue ‘Please Listen to Me’

VI: Fundamental Principles of Gender-Affirming Voice Therapy

22. Vocal Journeying

23. Vocal Authenticity

24. Vocal Plurality

25. Vocal Collaboration

26. Vocal Pedagogy

27. Therapeutic Affirmations

28. Author Dialogue ‘Trans Voicing’

VII: The Therapeutic Journey & Relationship

29. Skills and Conditions

30. Know the Drama

31. Author Dialogue ‘In the Boat Together'

VIII: Orientation to Gender-Affirming Voice & Communication Therapy

32. Coaching Ethics

33. Your Voice Development in Action

34. Your Voice Expansion in Action

35. Author Dialogue ‘The Sphere and The Cube’

36. Motor Learning Principles

37. Practical Pedagogy

38. How to Coach an Exercise

39. Author Dialogue ‘Imposter Syndrome to Vocal Belonging’

40. The Initial Appointment

41. Author Dialogue: ‘Meeting the Client’

42. High-Bright-Thin Therapy

43. Low-Chest-Thick Therapy

44. Non-Binary Voicing

45. The A+B=C of Practice

46. Population Considerations

47. Author Dialogue ‘Outcomes That Matter’

IX: Summary – The Trans-Affirmative SLT

48. Professional Crisis?

49. Doing the Work: Affirmations & Learning Statements

50. Author Dialogue ‘Be the Future’

Appendix of Resources

Bibliography

Index