From Unheard to Empowered: Why I Advocate for Voices That Go Unnoticed

Mar 19, 2025

There’s a profound difference between being listened to and being truly heard.

When I was a young teenager, I began experiencing unexplained vocal and physical challenges. My voice felt unpredictable, and my body wasn’t responding the way I expected. For two and a half years, my family and I searched for answers. Doctor after doctor assured us there was nothing wrong. Some told me I was just a “great actress.” Others suggested it was all in my head. At 13 years old, I was left questioning my own experience.

It’s an experience that far too many people share—especially those with complex or misunderstood conditions.

The Journey to Finding My Voice

Eventually, I found the right team of doctors, and I underwent life-saving thoracic surgery. But even after coming through the other side, my voice still felt inconsistent. I had to relearn how to use it—several times—until I finally met Joan Lader.

For the first time, someone didn’t just evaluate my voice. She saw me—not just as a singer with technical needs, but as a whole person. She connected me to my body in ways no one had before. Through her work, I rediscovered my voice—not just as a singer, but as a person. My authentic voice. My voice in this world.

That experience shaped the way I work with my clients today.

Why I Advocate for Voices That Go Unnoticed

I care deeply about people with conditions like paresis, Laryngeal Dystonia, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), POTS, and other voice-related challenges—not just because I’ve studied them, but because I understand what it’s like to seek answers. To feel dismissed. To want to be understood.

For so many people, their struggles aren’t taken seriously. Symptoms are written off as stress, anxiety, or over-exaggeration. They’re told their vocal fatigue is just a bad habit. That their breathing struggles will get better with time. That their pain is normal.

But when a singer says, “Something feels off,” I believe them.

That belief is what drives my work today.

Creating a Space Where Every Voice is Heard

When someone walks into my practice with uncertainty about their voice, I don’t just hear their symptoms. I hear them—their concerns, their frustrations, their hopes.

Together, we explore ways to bring ease, connection, and confidence back to their voice and body. Whether through manual therapy, biomechanics, or breath coordination, my goal is never just to “fix” a voice. It’s to help someone reconnect with their voice in a way that makes them feel empowered.

Because every voice deserves to be heard.

And every person deserves to trust that their experience matters.

Your Voice Matters

If you’ve ever felt unheard in your vocal journey, I want you to know you’re not alone. Your experience is real, and your voice is worth exploring.