How you prepare

If you're considering voice feminizing therapy, ask your doctor to refer you to a speech-language pathologist. Look for a specialist with training in the assessment and development of communication skills in transsexual, transgender and gender-nonconforming clients, and who has a basic understanding of transgender health, treatments and psychosocial issues. Professionals such as vocal coaches or singing teachers and some online resources also might play a helpful role.

Your speech-language pathologist will talk to you about your goals. What communication behaviors, vocal and nonverbal, do you want to acquire? If you don't have specific goals, your speech-language pathologist can explain some options.

Using this information, you and your specialist will come up with a treatment plan.