My name is Louise Milner-Smith and I qualified as a Speech and Language Therapist at City University.
I have 15 years experience working with voice in the NHS and I now work as a Voice Coach, having set up a private practice 5 years ago. I also offer talking therapy to further support the voice, if required, as voice and emotions are intrinsically linked.
What my clients have said about me:
JessI have to use the phone quite a lot and I was constantly having to correct people as to my gender. After several months working with Louise, I’ve not been misgendered on the phone for a long time. I’m now comfortable making social small talk without fear of my voice outing me and have even done some public speaking. Louise really can work wonders.
Adele RI immediately felt at ease with her. She has a friendly and relaxed personality which exudes at all times. I always look forward to my next lesson and have made great progress with Lou’s guidance. Thank you Lou!
Mia MThe voice coaching that I’ve had with Louise has really helped me with my self-confidence. Louise is a really friendly and likeable person and having sessions with her feel like having a chat with a friend.
AmyI am now confident to speak freely in everyday life. I speak in public, give speeches, presentations and have done continuity work on TV. Working with Louise helped me build confidence in my own voice.
About Me
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
I have 15 years’ experience as a qualified Speech and Language Therapist at St. Peters Hospital, Chertsey, Surrey, specialising in voice disorders for adults and children, as well as vocal feminisation and modification for the trans community. I have also worked with actors, singers, teachers and other “professional voice users” providing instruction, vocal advice and strategies in order to achieve and maintain their optimum voice qualities.
During these 15 years, I have attended and continue to attend many courses, Special Interest Groups and Clinical Supervision sessions. I have worked in a variety of healthcare settings including the general hospital acute setting — neurological unit; outpatient setting in the voice clinics; outpatient surgical voice restoration (SVR) for people with head and neck cancers, and for this work I was Macmillan trained. I worked in the community hospitals offering neurological rehabilitation and home visits. I also set up and ran workshops and training for other healthcare professionals. Whilst working in the NHS, I gained further post-graduate qualifications, including various psycho-therapeutic approaches and techniques such as solution-focused counselling which can be essential in the area of voice work.
CURRENT INFORMATION
Owing to financial cuts in the NHS for the transgender service despite a high demand, I left the NHS and set up my own practice which is called All About Your Voice. I now work with the transgender community and professional voice users from an office in my home, offering online sessions for clients all over the world.