About Free to Speak Voice and Speech Therapy

	Mission My mission is to provide quality voice and speech therapy in a manner that is respectful of the whole person, using all my knowledge and power to guide each person to become free to speak in all situations. Using my own experience of long-term successful management of Spasmodic Dysphonia, my primary focus is to share the knowledge that this is possible through holistic voice rehabilitation. The current paradigm of short-term voice therapy and/or botulinum toxin injections is limited. SD is of larger scope than simply the voice, and requires a broad, yet individualized approach to treatment. The neurological aspect of SD is dealt with through a model of neuroplasticity, eliciting a shift and re-grooving of voice production. - Connie Pike
Connie Pike MA, CCC-SLP	About Connie Pike I have been employed as a speech-language pathologist since 1981. I have enjoyed providing therapy to a wide range of ages and speech/language disabilities. I have a long history of success in the field, and was enjoying the job I felt I was meant to do in my life. However, in late April of 2004, my life changed. After a year of great stress, a bout of laryngitis failed to abate. Instead, I plummeted into the devastation of Spasmodic Dysphonia. Over a period of about 6 months, I became almost unable to speak intelligibly. With a formal diagnosis of Adductor Spasmodic Dysphonia in August 2004, I set about to challenge and overcome this condition. I was told that the only treatment for it was to receive botulinum toxin injections for the rest of my life. I simply could not accept it. My voice became so strangled, I could not continue working. I took a leave of absence in December 2004, with the idea that a problem as severe as mine would require a full-time commitment to the process of recovery. It was a frightening place to be, but I did believe that I could recover my voice with the right approach. I did recover my voice, so that I began to foresee this as something that happened for a reason. I lost my voice, and recovered it, so I could help others do the same. I’ve had periods of complete remission, and periods of mild-moderate struggle. I have, over the years, been able to maintain the freedom to speak, and my voice has not regressed to anything close to the handicapping condition it once was. I now have the tools to manage the condition successfully. For me, that does not include botulinum toxin injections, although I maintain the opinion that, for some, that will be a preferred choice of treatment. Recovering my voice was a slow process, but the results were profound. I wrote and published by first book in 2005 and began offering holistic intensive clinics in August 2005. The clinics are held 3-5 times annually. (See Intensive Workshop Description). I published my second book in 2011, which is a comprehensive look at the process of voice rehabilitation, including efficacy data and theory, as well as suggested exercises and strategies. (Purchase books.) I have currently committed myself to serving the voice-disordered population, but also approach dysfluency in a similar holistic manner, and work with adults with social language anxieties and issues (such as Asperger’s syndrome). I always treat the whole person, and not simply the voice or speech issue. I believe that we are beings of energy, and that how we think, breathe, move and live life affects our voice and speech patterns. This is an ever changeable and adaptable process. Connie is a certified member of the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association and licensed as a Speech Pathologist by the state of Florida. Connie is also registered as a Speech Therapist with the Healthcare Professions Council in the UK. Click on these samples to hear my voice as I resolved SD: Six months after onset of Spasmodic Dysphonia Note: these clips were taken from audiotape and therefore, are of reduced quality. This audio clip was recorded electronically on May 19, 2008, 3 years after my voice was recovered. Three years after voice recovered Traditional Voice therapy is unlikely to resolve SD, although it can be very helpful for other voice disorders such as Muscle Tension Dysphonia and Functional Dysphonia. I am getting some positive feedback from my fellow professionals that are using my approach with success, with my book to guide them. I hope to continue my mission and expand it to educating my peers. Treatment of Spasmodic Dysphonia, which is the most handicapping and profound of all voice disorders, requires an intensive, holistic approach. One must be guided to find their path back to the right feeling of proper voice production, and that involves breathing, posture, voice explorations, and especially emotional and conceptual aspects of voice image and use of the voice in a variety of communicative settings. While the intensive clinics are the best process as they involve a team approach, I also provide individual consultation either in person or via SKYPE. Contact Connie for more information or scheduling: cpike200@gmail.com Order Connie's books and Services here: http://www.freetospeakvoicetherapy.com/obtainservices/
Voice Clinic Team Left to right: Christine, Dennis, Connie, Robbie	Facilitators Clinic Facilitators contracted to provide services at the clinics are: Dennis Price, of Wholistic Services, LLC in Ft. Lauderdale. Dennis has studied nutritional biochemistry, has an associate degree in emergency medicine, and is a licensed neuromuscular therapist. He is also certified in Neurolinguistic Programming (NLP) and has worked with Tony Robbins as a trainer in developmental skills and motivation. He is a personal coach and consultant. Dennis uses his vast knowledge and intuition to provide breathing enhancement and development, neuromuscular work on any part of the body involved in voice production and breathing, and provides nutritional guidance and NLP explorations at the clinics. Dennis also provides private instruction at his office: Contact Dennis for more information or to schedule an appointment (link) or call Dennis at 954-463-5250. Christine Deschler, LMT provides upper body massage that is relaxing and centering, yoga instruction, and assists with lunches during the clinic. Robbie Goss, MA, LMHC, LMFT, interprets the Taylor-Johnson Psychosocial profile and provides one consultation for each participant at the clinics. This includes suggested projects to improve weak areas and to maximize success in the program.
	Contact Us Email Connie Pike, CCC-SLP Phone 813-641-1212 or write to Connie Pike, CCC-SLP 817 Bunker View Drive, Apollo Beach, Florida 33572

Voice Therapy

Mission

My mission is to provide quality voice and speech therapy in a manner that is respectful of the whole person, using all my knowledge and power to guide each person to become free to speak in all situations. Using my own experience of long-term successful management of Spasmodic Dysphonia, my primary focus is to share the knowledge that this is possible through holistic voice rehabilitation. The current paradigm of short-term voice therapy and/or botulinum toxin injections is limited. SD is of larger scope than simply the voice, and requires a broad, yet individualized approach to treatment. The neurological aspect of SD is dealt with through a model of neuroplasticity, eliciting a shift and re-grooving of voice production. - Connie Pike

Connie Pike

MA, CCC-SLP

About Connie Pike

I have been employed as a speech-language pathologist since 1981. I have enjoyed providing therapy to a wide range of ages and speech/language disabilities. I have a long history of success in the field, and was enjoying the job I felt I was meant to do in my life.

However, in late April of 2004, my life changed. After a year of great stress, a bout of laryngitis failed to abate. Instead, I plummeted into the devastation of Spasmodic Dysphonia. Over a period of about 6 months, I became almost unable to speak intelligibly. With a formal diagnosis of Adductor Spasmodic Dysphonia in August 2004, I set about to challenge and overcome this condition. I was told that the only treatment for it was to receive botulinum toxin injections for the rest of my life. I simply could not accept it. My voice became so strangled, I could not continue working. I took a leave of absence in December 2004, with the idea that a problem as severe as mine would require a full-time commitment to the process of recovery. It was a frightening place to be, but I did believe that I could recover my voice with the right approach.

I did recover my voice, so that I began to foresee this as something that happened for a reason. I lost my voice, and recovered it, so I could help others do the same. I’ve had periods of complete remission, and periods of mild-moderate struggle. I have, over the years, been able to maintain the freedom to speak, and my voice has not regressed to anything close to the handicapping condition it once was. I now have the tools to manage the condition successfully. For me, that does not include botulinum toxin injections, although I maintain the opinion that, for some, that will be a preferred choice of treatment.

Recovering my voice was a slow process, but the results were profound. I wrote and published by first book in 2005 and began offering holistic intensive clinics in August 2005. The clinics are held 3-5 times annually. (See Intensive Workshop Description).

I published my second book in 2011, which is a comprehensive look at the process of voice rehabilitation, including efficacy data and theory, as well as suggested exercises and strategies. (Purchase books.)

I have currently committed myself to serving the voice-disordered population, but also approach dysfluency in a similar holistic manner, and work with adults with social language anxieties and issues (such as Asperger’s syndrome). I always treat the whole person, and not simply the voice or speech issue. I believe that we are beings of energy, and that how we think, breathe, move and live life affects our voice and speech patterns. This is an ever changeable and adaptable process.

Connie is a certified member of the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association and licensed as a Speech Pathologist by the state of Florida. Connie is also registered as a Speech Therapist with the Healthcare Professions Council in the UK.

Click on these samples to hear my voice as I resolved SD:

Six months after onset of Spasmodic Dysphonia

Note: these clips were taken from audiotape and therefore, are of reduced quality. This audio clip was recorded electronically on May 19, 2008, 3 years after my voice was recovered.

Three years after voice recovered

Traditional Voice therapy is unlikely to resolve SD, although it can be very helpful for other voice disorders such as Muscle Tension Dysphonia and Functional Dysphonia. I am getting some positive feedback from my fellow professionals that are using my approach with success, with my book to guide them. I hope to continue my mission and expand it to educating my peers.

Treatment of Spasmodic Dysphonia, which is the most handicapping and profound of all voice disorders, requires an intensive, holistic approach. One must be guided to find their path back to the right feeling of proper voice production, and that involves breathing, posture, voice explorations, and especially emotional and conceptual aspects of voice image and use of the voice in a variety of communicative settings. While the intensive clinics are the best process as they involve a team approach, I also provide individual consultation either in person or via SKYPE.

Contact Connie for more information or scheduling: cpike200@gmail.com

Order Connie's books and Services here: http://www.freetospeakvoicetherapy.com/obtainservices/

Free to Speak Voice Therapy Clinic Team

Voice Clinic Team

Left to right: Christine, Dennis, Connie, Robbie

Facilitators

Clinic Facilitators contracted to provide services at the clinics are:

Dennis Price, of Wholistic Services, LLC in Ft. Lauderdale. Dennis has studied nutritional biochemistry, has an associate degree in emergency medicine, and is a licensed neuromuscular therapist. He is also certified in Neurolinguistic Programming (NLP) and has worked with Tony Robbins as a trainer in developmental skills and motivation. He is a personal coach and consultant. Dennis uses his vast knowledge and intuition to provide breathing enhancement and development, neuromuscular work on any part of the body involved in voice production and breathing, and provides nutritional guidance and NLP explorations at the clinics. Dennis also provides private instruction at his office:

Contact Dennis for more information or to schedule an appointment (link) or call Dennis at 954-463-5250.

Christine Deschler, LMT provides upper body massage that is relaxing and centering, yoga instruction, and assists with lunches during the clinic.

Robbie Goss, MA, LMHC, LMFT, interprets the Taylor-Johnson Psychosocial profile and provides one consultation for each participant at the clinics. This includes suggested projects to improve weak areas and to maximize success in the program.

Contact Us

Email Connie Pike, CCC-SLP
Phone 813-641-1212

or write to
Connie Pike, CCC-SLP
817 Bunker View Drive, Apollo Beach, Florida 33572