FAQ — Emma Blythe SLP (LLC)

Insurance plans that I can accept are listed below. If you choose to work with me and have insurance that I am not currently paneled with, you can request a monthly superbill to submit to your insurance provider for out-of-network reimbursement. I accept the following insurance plans at this time:

Anthem BCBS (commercial plans)

what are your rates?

Intake: $150 - Individual sessions: $110

how often will we meet?

This answer varies depending on client progress, goals, availability etc. My preference would be that we meet weekly for the first 8-12 weeks to ensure that you are making steady progress with your voice. Once you are gaining more confidence with your voice, it is possible that we do not need to meet as frequently. I am happy to adjust frequency as needed.

How long are sessions?

Sessions are 45 minutes each.

Do you have weekend or evening hours?

My hours are:

Mondays 6:30pm - 9:15pm

Tuesdays 6:15pm - 9:00pm

The latest appointment spot each day is 8:15/8:30pm.

Additional hours may be available upon request.

Do i need a referral for voice therapy?

If you will be using insurance to pay for your voice therapy, then I will need a referral from a physician/primary care provider. Please have them send their referral via fax to:

Emma Blythe, SLP, LLC

Fax number 317-296-6545

If you will be paying out-of-pocket for your voice therapy, no referral from a physician/ PCP is required.

what should i do to prepare for the first session?

If possible, please use a plugged-in laptop with a built-in microphone for our appointments.

Make sure you have filled out all consent documents to your client portal.

Please upload your insurance card to your portal and review your policy for information about your deductible, copays, coinsurance, or out-of-pocket maximums that we will review in our initial meeting.

what will the first session be like?

Before starting sessions, I always like to do a 15-minute phone consultation with new clients to answer any questions. Once the consultation is complete, if you decide that you want to move forward in working with me, we will schedule your first appointment.

You will receive an email from me with a unique link that will take you to your HIPAA-compliant and secure client portal. There will be a set of consent forms and intake documents to review and complete at least 24 hours before your first session.

At our first session, I will ask you some questions about voice-related medical history, identify goals for voice therapy, and ask you questions abut how your voice is impacting your daily life/ interactions. I will give you directions on how to send me voice recordings for my evaluation report – a phone or laptop with microphone will work perfectly.

General FAQ

What should i expect from gender-affirming voice training?

Changing your voice is like learning how to play a new instrument – it takes a LOT of time and practice before it becomes second nature.

Voice training isn’t permanent – you can always go back to your “default” voice (your voice you use habitually, without thinking) for whatever reason. However, you might notice that your “default” voice will change over time with consistent voice training.

Manage your expectations for what your “end goal” voice will sound like. At the end of your voice training, you will sound closer to your ideal voice, but you will not necessarily sound like a different person. Instead of aiming to sound like a specific person, pick a ‘genre” of voice descriptors you want your voice to sound like (e.g. airy, light, husky, strong, gentle, etc).

Would I benefit from gender-affirming voice training? How would I know if it’s right for me?

You do not feel safe in how your gender is perceived when you speak, and it may attract unwanted attention from strangers.

You suspect that strangers misgender you because of your voice during everyday tasks such as using the phone, ordering at a drive-through, etc.
You feel that your voice is incongruent with your gender (e.g. too “high-pitched”, “bass-y”, “too feminine”, “too masculine”, etc).
You’ve tried changing your voice on your own but are unsatisfied with the changes, or your efforts are making your voice feel hoarse, tight, strained, etc

If you are considering Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) and want to know how hormones may (or may not!) change your voice
You want to start HRT but have concerns with how your singing voice will change
If you are interested in pitch-raising voice surgery, we can help inform you of the pros/ cons of each procedure to help you make an informed decision
Voice therapy after pitch-raising surgery to help you transition to your full voice

What are some ways that a gender-affirming voice therapist can support me?

Is gender-affirming voice training only for transfeminine folks?

Nope! Gender-affirming voice training can be for anyone along the gender spectrum whose voice feels incongruent with their gender.

Here are some other valid reasons to see a voice therapist:

Your voice didn’t drop as low as you had expected from taking testosterone.
You have taken testosterone and have noticed a drop in your voice, but it didn’t get as low as you had wanted (e.g. you think it sounds “buzzy”, “like a young boy”, or that you have a “customer service voice”).
You don’t take testosterone but you want the voice-changing effects of testosterone.
You are gender-nonconforming and want to achieve a more androgynous or gender-fluid voice.