The intimate connection between the psyche, emotion, the body and vocal expression.
The person behind the professional
Over 35 years of experience
More than 35 years have passed since, driven by a need, by curiosity, by emotional relief – and by the sense of movement that singing gave me, seeking nothing more than to set myself free through my voice – I embarked on this journey. I have continued on this path alongside the people who have accompanied me – in very different ways – always with growing curiosity and passion. A journey that, at times, has led me to delve deep within, to set myself free, and to experience a sense of vertigo. Rebuilding oneself, reclaiming oneself, is no simple task. But it can be done. You have to set out to do it and stay in constant touch with that intention. And I have met wonderful people whose very presence has made this shared journey possible. Constant contact with the voice – my own and that of others – allows me to grow as a person and also to develop an ever-deeper understanding of the interwoven threads and intricate meanderings of the human voice.
The intimate connection between the psyche, emotion, the body and vocal expression in two areas straddling the boundary between artistic creation and the health of human relationships is at the heart of my interest and my research. It is here, I must say, that I move with clarity, freshness and creativity.
Thank you to all of them.
The conceptual framework of Psychosomatics of Vocal Expression
Voice Movement Therapy / Bioenergetic Analysis / T.R.E.©
Voice Movement Therapy
‘The ability to sustain, contain and control your voice in harmony with your body transforms the concept of ‘I am’ into a biological reality.’ Roy Hart
Bioenergetic Analysis
“...a rich voice is a rich means of self-expression and denotes a rich inner life... to regain their full potential for self-expression means use the voice across all its registers and in all its emotional nuances. The blocking of any emotion will affect their vocal expression.” Alexander Lowen
Tension and Trauma Releasing Exercises (T.R.E.©)
“...only by showing myself exactly as I am can I enable the other person to find their own authenticity." Carl Rogers
Vocal Expression
A psychosomatic perspective
The Psychosomatic Vocal Expression stems from a traumatic medical experience in my childhood that shaped my development and which, almost as a natural consequence, led me to a professional career that has been intuitively guided by the process of rebuilding and the search for answers. This life journey enables me today to offer a space to listen, feel, understand and accept your voice just as it is, and to accompany you on your journey towards your goals.
Every vocality is unique: a gateway to our inner worlds, to the history of our personal relationships and to the auditory heritage that bears traces of the cultural, historical and social environment in which we grew up. It reveals the traces of our adaptations to our surroundings, including the toll they have taken; voices and silences, and shapes our character structure.
“…voice is an indicator of different phases in a person´s life. It is free from static qualitites. Vocal changes accompany the development of the individual, but in addition, voice contains archaic properties originating in the cradle of mankind. One can go as far as to say that vocal expression is a record of the history of mankind as well as a record of the individual...” Paul J. Moses
The process of exploring one’s own voice is based on a humanistic approach, grounded in an understanding of the body’s energetic mechanisms, the regulation of the nervous system, neuroscience’s insights into brain plasticity in learning processes, vocal physiology, and role-play and symbolic exploration.
I tailor the process to each person’s objectives and their everyday professional and personal context. My approach is an invitation to rediscover spontaneity and the expressive possibilities of the voice through empathic listening, and by refining one’s perception of the somatic experience involved in using the voice, singing and speaking. I encourage the development of your vocal identity through the conscious choice of your expression and personal narrative, moving away from vocal imposed aesthetic constraints. I help to dismantle limiting beliefs, fantasies and images about our voice and about ourselves, always within a safe physical, symbolic and relational space.
Identify and validate the vocal characteristics that make us unique it' s a priority issue, as well as, to perceive how the body and the mind organise themselves during vocal or speech activity. We identify on which level arise the obstacles airse for a full and mature vocal expression , on a physical, mental, emotional or relational level. A voice is built within a relationship; for this reason, beyond techniques and approaches, the core of Psychosomatics of Vocal Expression lies in the quality of presence that accompanies you throughout the process. My role, therefore, is to listen to you on this journey, respecting your pace, your choices, and any vocal technique you may have learnt previously. I create the conditions for an experience of co-regulation, a fundamental element in any process of building or rebuilding a voice, a coherent vocal expression – and, ultimately, a person.
“….no one would question the fact that the human voice could lose extension, power and color as a result of a concrete emotional experience, but however, we create doubts around the voice being able to develop it self in the same way by taking profit of another set of emotional circumstances… " Alfred Wolfshon
The voice – whether singing or speaking in public – is not a professional preserve. Living fully through your voice is your own right. Psychosomatic of Vocal Expression is for anyone who wishes to rediscover their own voice through genuine expression that enriches their relationships. It is also for those for whom their voice is a fundamental tool of their trade and who need or wish to enhance the quality of their presence and communicative authenticity: music therapists, psychiatrists, psychotherapists, helping professionals, actors, singers, dancers, teachers, journalists, lawyers, salespeople…
You will discover that your voice regains its rightful place as a means of expression; you will experience greater ease and expressive flexibility, along with a deeper connection to your vitality. You will be able to cultivate coherence between intention and expression, discover the capacity of the voice as a means of self-regulating our emotional states, increase and strengthen your presence, reduce levels of unnecessary effort, develop self-esteem and improve your self-concept, as well as regain authority over yourself and acquire simple physical techniques to cope with stage fright.
What matters is what a person internalises and integrates whilst developing his own voice, their singing style and their way of being in the world – with themselves and with others. It is essential to end each session with a greater sense of vocal possibilities, feeling more connected to one’s voice, and with a delivery that is consistent with one’s expressive intention.
We can address the following topics in online or face-to-face sessions – either one-to-one or in groups – for professionals with specific interests: public speaking, leadership, vocal image, voice and speaking style in personal interactions, self-esteem, pronunciation difficulties, stammering and other speech disorders, vocal training and pronunciation for singers and actors, your individual singing style, and any other situation you are currently experiencing that you feel is having a negative impact on your vocal expression, your voice or your life. Shall we have a chat?
Psychotherapy
Bioenergetic Analysis, based on an energetic understanding of the organism as a whole – the psychological, somatic, emotional, cognitive and expressive levels – which are closely interrelated, is a psychotherapeutic method with a psychosomatic approach, recognised for its scientific validity at European level (EAP – European Association for Psychotherapy). Built on the premise of continuity between body and mind, it has its roots in the work of Wilhelm Reich and was developed by Alexander Lowen in 1956.
Individual psychotherapy
goes beyond simply achieving the absence of symptoms. The tools offered are designed to stimulate and enhance self-awareness, to mobilise one’s energy, free up the breath, strengthen one’s sense of grounding and self-mastery, whilst also fostering emotional expression, spontaneous movement and creativity.
I support
the individual in their journey to reconnect with their body and inhabit it with greater vitality, enabling them to navigate life’s challenges, whilst helping them to develop their potential. I focus on body language, breathing, movement and expression, using active listening to help the individual develop an understanding of themselves within the context of their life story, and how this is reflected in their body, their style of relating to others and their means of expression, as well as in their creative capacity to respond to life’s situations.
Stress Management, Stage Fright, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder T.R.E.© stems from the observation of human behaviour in situations of high stress, whether acute or chronic, and has emerged as an approach to prevention and recovery in the areas of physical and emotional health. T.R.E.© activates the body’s natural neurological restoration mechanism, known as neurogenic tremor. Its function is to relieve and release patterns of physical tension in the body, and to reduce psychological and emotional stress and anxiety.
T.R.E. © consists of a simple sequence of movements organised into two phases; it is easy to learn and has proven useful for a range of people, including professionals who are subjected to high levels of mental, emotional and physical strain (teachers, police officers, military personnel, healthcare workers, social workers, athletes, musicians, etc.) and who accumulate a level of negative stress that undermines the quality of their personal lives; people experiencing social or domestic violence, workplace harassment, long-term care of sick relatives, etc.; people suffering from chronic pain, fibromyalgia, cluster headaches, migraines, sciatica… panic attacks, stage fright, and patients undergoing rehabilitation following surgery or injury; people with sleep disorders or who are recovering from a traumatic event (accidents, natural disasters, bereavement, etc.)
* No special physical fitness is required to practise it. And it is not a substitute for psychotherapy, physiotherapy or medical treatment.
Let me know what you need!
Consultancy for professionals
One-to-one vocal sessions
Online and face-to-face sessions
Specific courses for groups