Finding Your Voice: Supporting Gender-Affirming Communication in All Seasons

Aug 4

At Sound Speech & Hearing Clinic, we believe that communication should reflect who you are, authentically, confidently, and without compromise. For many individuals on a gender journey, that includes exploring and aligning their voice and communication style with their identity.

Whether it’s summer, school season, or any time in between, we’re here to provide affirming, evidence-based voice care that supports safety, self-expression, and confidence.

🗣️ What is Gender-Affirming Voice Care?

Gender-affirming voice care helps transgender, nonbinary, and gender-diverse individuals explore how they use their voice. The program at Sound goes beyond pitch exploring resonance, intonation, breath support, articulation, and nonverbal communication.

Some people come to voice therapy wanting to make significant changes. Others are just curious or want to feel more control, safety, or flexibility when communicating. There's no “one way” to sound, and that’s the beauty of this work.

💡 Our Approach at Sound

Our voice therapy program is rooted in three core values:

Affirmation – We affirm each patient’s identity, communication goals, and voice as valid.
Education – We help patients understand the anatomy and function of voice, empowering them with tools and techniques.
Safety – We prioritize vocal health, teaching strategies to explore change without strain or damage.

Each session is customized, respectful, and collaborative. Whether you’re prepping for school presentations, customer service work, performances, or everyday conversations, we’re here to support you.

💬 It’s More Than Just Pitch

Voice work is holistic. In our sessions, we might explore:

Intonation patterns and speech rhythm
Body language and facial expressions
Vocal wellness and self-care
Confidence-building in social or professional settings

We also offer support for individuals navigating medical transitions (e.g., pre/post surgery or HRT), working in tandem with physicians and therapists as part of a care team.

🌈 Access Matters, All Year Long

We know the path to gender-affirming care isn’t always straightforward, and accessing support can feel overwhelming. That’s why we’re committed to:

Educating local providers about our services
Hosting events and office hours to connect with the community
Offering inclusive intake processes and flexible scheduling

Whether you’re exploring voice for the first time or returning to refine your goals, we’re ready when you are.

✨ Your Voice, Your Journey

Your voice is deeply personal. It’s not about sounding a certain way, it’s about being heard and feeling seen. At Sound, we’re honored to walk alongside individuals as they find and shape the voice that feels right for them.

Questions? Ready to get started? Reach out, we’re here to listen.

Jody Vaynshtok

Jody is a California-licensed speech language pathologist with eight years of industry and clinical experience. She has worked with both adult and pediatric populations during her time at private practice, birth-to-three, and hospital facilities. She is experienced in the assessment and treatment of a variety of communication and cognitive disorders. In addition, Jody has a passion for working with adults looking to achieve clearer communication. Jody received her BS in Speech and Hearing Sciences and MS in Medical Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Washington. She was a part of the Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford’s cleft and craniofacial clinic participating in the multidisciplinary assessment and treatment of children born with craniofacial abnormalities. She holds a staff position at UCSF and is the lead speech language pathologist for the department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery’s Hearing Loss Clinic. When she's not busy having fun with her clients Jody enjoys spending time with her husband, Anton, friends and family. And if she's not headed out somewhere fun for dinner, you might find her at Bar Method working out!