Your voice as barometer
Do you have the feeling that you don’t come across as who you really are, that there’s more to you than what the outside world sees of you? Or do you continue to face the same problems over and over? And do you think that your voice plays a role here? Your voice is kind of a barometer, and can be an indication for something that is out of balance in another area of your life. If you are ready for the next step and want to get to the core of your (voice) problem, we can start a more in-depth coaching process in which you combine voice training with personal development and awareness. This program is grounded in the Polyvagal Theory, Theory of Positive Disintegration and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).
An invitation for development
How do you lead a happy and meaningful life, how do you make the most of it? We are all confronted with setbacks that seem to stand in the way of our ideal image of ‘how life should be’. This can feel unfair, unjust or useless. We usually then try to avoid the related pain, anxiety and unwelcome feelings by fighting against it. But does this really improve the quality of your life, will you find more meaning? Many people experience the opposite. So what would it be like if you consider life’s setbacks as an opportunity to learn, to become increasingly self-aware?
A voice problem can be a symptom of an inner conflict: an invitation to face a part from yourself that you’re turning down, or to start living according to your own values. If you enter that process, you will increasingly learn more about your own inner world, what this means for your personality and the way you want to live. It is a process that reveals what really matters to you. Eventually you’ll make a shift from ‘surviving daily life’ to ‘experiencing daily life’.
Your voice as vulnerability ánd as strength
Our nervous system is structured in such a way that our voice, the barometer, reflects how we feel. Are you comfortable and do you feel safe? Or are you nervous and do you feel not at ease? There is a good chance that your voice reveals this. Especially if you are hypersensitive to stimuli, your voice may at times not function the way you want it to. You can experience this as something that bothers you, a form of vulnerability. But this vulnerability has another side of the coin: it is also your strength, an indication of your talent. Below you see a few examples of what that might look like. Do you want to learn more about the overexcitabilities? Read this article.
Individual coaching program ‘Let your voice activate personal growth’
In this coaching program we take your request for help on the voice level as a starting point and we put this in the broad context of your personal, emotional development. If you really want to change something about the way you speak, is it at least important to consider your thoughts and emotions in this process. In addition to voice training, we’ll do interventions from the polyvagal theory and the ACT method. And there is extra time and space for in-depth reflections on your feelings, talents, conflicts, beliefs, values en wishes that are connected to the voice. The sessions are offered in my studio in Amsterdam.*
Taking the course, you’ll get:
- A personal, customised program
- Eight one-hour sessions
- Voice coaching in the broader context of your personal development
- A copy of my book VOICE
- Assignments, hand-outs with exercises and audio recordings
- Instructional videos and any interim feedback by email/phone
*Is my location too far away for you? In some cases you can follow the curriculum remotely, online. We can also alternate between remote and live sessions.
Who will benefit
This course is for anyone who perceives their voice as an obstacle to express themselves the way they want, or to connect with others. You sense that you are ready for taking the next step in your life, and you are willing to get to work on this in a self-reflective way. Especially if you recognize yourself as sensitive, creative, inquisitive, gifted, fast thinking or intense, you have come to the right place.
Clarity call
Are you interested in this type of coaching and would you like to know more? In that case I’ll invite you for a free, 30 minute clarity call by phone or via Skype. In the interview we will formulate your request for help and we can both decide whether I’m the right voice coach for you. During the call it is also relevant to find out whether your voice is physically healthy, or if your request fits better with a different specialist. Contact me to book your free clarity call, or for more information.
Prices 2023
The total investment for ‘Let your voice activate personal growth’ is as follows:
- €785,- including VAT for individuals and self-employed people /zzp’ers with income lower than average
- €985,- including VAT for individuals and self-employed people /zzp’ers with average income or higher
- €1.225,- excluding VAT for companies
There are several possibilities to finance the coaching program. Does your employer offer a personal training budget, or are you eligible for outplacement? Feel also free to contact me to inquire about the possibilites if your budget is insufficient, like spread payments.
Testimonials
“I started voice coaching because I wanted to become more aware of my voice use and how to use it. Thanks to Laura’s expert guidance each session was relaxed, educational and playful. This was because Laura pays great attention to creating a safe learning environment in which she alternates between feeling, thinking and doing. The content of each session was carefully prepared. At the same time, Laura checked each time what my personal needs were and decided to bring up or cancel a certain exercise accordingly. In the end, the program tuned out to be not just about my voice. It touched a deeper layer of my personal development. In short, I learned much more than I initially came for and enjoyed the program with Laura very much!”
Daniela, teacher and researcher
“I came to Laura for help with a lifelong mumbling habit, and an overly fast, monotone way of speaking. I had done some work alone from books but couldn’t make anything stick. Laura’s sessions ranged from practical and physical exercises, to delving into the psychological and personal history aspects that influence how we express ourselves. She provided tools, accountability, as well as a safe setting to go deep into some unexpected mental places. One doesn’t get ‘cured’ from a lifelong way of doing something as fundamental as speaking, but I’ve been able to make very tangible progress and now have systems and practices (and more importantly motivation) to keep going. Once I started to work on speaking more intentionally it became obvious how many other aspects of my life I was rushing on autopilot. The implications of this have been pretty far reaching and positive for me. Thanks Laura!”
Marcus, project manager
“Laura has helped me understand how my voice works, what kind of physical and mental blockages can influence how my voice sounds and how I can learn to reconnect with my voice. This all through practical techniques but also by becoming more aware of my emotions and how they influence how I express myself. This has helped me perform better at work which involves public speaking, but has also helped me express myself more effectively in general. I would definitely recommend voice coaching with Laura to anyone who is looking to improve their communication skills on any level. “
Carly, lawyer
“Voice was the start point that brought me to Laura’s coaching. However, my journey went much broader to other aspects that connect to voice. The sessions were playful, insightful, and reflective. She is very patient and empathetic; I feel safe to practice with her on my most insecure aspects of voice. I also really like practice from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Theory of Positive Disintegration. After the training, I am packed with a lot of tools to continue working on my voice and personal growth.”
Echo, industrial designer
“I’m looking back with great pleasure on the process with Laura. In speaking, she helped me to create peace and space. But she also challenged me in terms of emotional growth. Thanks to her, I am more in touch with my own emotions and therefore more connected to my environment.”
Anouk, Process analyst
“Laura is a very perceptive and skilled coach. She responded to needs as they revealed themselves, adapting the focus to make for personalized and rewarding development process. Beginning with voice technique we then zoomed in on personal growth. I have improved my vocal technique but also learned some very practical exercises to help connect to my emotions. I feel well equipped to deal with challenging situations and this has made a noticeable impact in my personal and professional life. I highly recommend Laura as a professional coach.”
Tom, Design Leader
“Laura doesn’t just focus on the voice, but also looks beyond. She has an eye for what can be improved on a personal level as well, and encourages you to take the right steps in this direction. Thanks to her empathetic abilities, she creates a safe place to practice things that feel vulnerable. She inspired me for instance to look at my anxiety with more acceptance (e.g. on stage). And she encouraged me to just be myself and show who I am (instead of laughing away my discomfort). It’s a process; and nice to have had Laura by my side!”
Grete, journalist/writer
“I learned a lot from the process with Laura. Initially, we focused on voice techniques that helped me to use my voice in a more conscious way. The biggest obstacle, however, turned out to be that I was inhibited in using my voice. I was tempted to look for just the right way of phrasing when I wanted to say something. The result was a subdued way of speaking, without liveliness. This was at the expense of the expressiveness of my voice. Laura offered exercises which helped me to loosen up and find more playfulness and emotion in my voice. In combination with the voice techniques, this turned out to be the key to a more effective voice.”
Cees, psychiatrist
“Very useful course. Laura is not only an expert in her field (as she just wrote a specialist book) as a coach, but she really adjusts to the needs and personal difficulties/challenges to provide you with the correct tools/advises and exercises. Thanks Laura, this is a A+++ course.”
Brice, sales director
“Laura is patient, didactic and attentive to feedback and questions. She provided personalised exercises and lots of tools that I will keep practicing. To my surprise, the class involved more introspective reflexions than stretching of my vocal cords. I expected to learn how to speak louder and had the pleasure of discovering tips and techniques to empower my voice without having to raise it. Thanks Laura for the pleasant and helpful sessions!”
Sandrine, communications manager
“Laura coaches in a personal and structured way. Based on what she hears and sees from you, she understands your need for development and seamlessly adapts her sessions to these needs. Thanks to the balance between theory, practice and reflection I was able to make great strides in a short amount of time. I learned, among other things, how to speak from the heart and to apply posture, breathing and articulation in the right way. The 8-week process has given me the tools to convey a powerful, authentic message in a corporate environment and to develop myself further afterwards, professionally as well as personally.”
Puk, innovation manager
“Worlds opened up for me, a beautiful development process emerged. Whether you’re more experienced or not in this field, I highly recommend to practise your voice under the fresh guidance of Laura. Her approach is wise, playful and structured, a very pleasant combination. Moreover, she has a great deal of extensive knowledge and seamlessly adapts to newly discovered concerns. The initial tension I experienced was welcomed, and relaxed steadily during the varied exercises and thanks to Laura’s insightful feedback.”
Lotte, life coach, public speaker and teacher
“I strongly advice coaching with Laura. Most of us are not aware of the power our voice has, and how it reflects all of our emotions. We started working on breathing styles and discovering the lower and the higher pitches in my voice. Later, we focussed especially on finding out why my voice sounds like it does. I became aware of my inner self, accepting it and taking control of it. I believe that this new awareness brought another view to my perception. Our voice is a gift and we should not take it for granted. If you discover it’s power, it will take you on a lovely journey to your inner self, where you will find a ‘new you’.
Thank you Laura, for being my buddy through that journey.”
Shirin, commercial finance manager
“Laura has helped me in a pleasant and holistic way to make my voice heard, both literally and figuratively speaking. Thanks to voice exercises and by paying attention to mental blocks, I am now better able to express myself in stressful situation and in noisy environments. The atmosphere in the sessions was very pleasant and there was a good balance between comfort and growth. I can absolutely recommend this coaching program!”
Daphne, sustainability coordinator
Personal coaching
Let your voice activate personal growth.
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Communicate with more decisiveness and expressiveness.
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VOICE: A Multifaceted Approach to Self-Growth and Vocal Empowerment
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