ServicesManual Therapy
When tension patterns take hold in the body, they can interfere with how we speak, breathe, and feel. Manual therapy offers a way back to ease—through skilled, hands-on work.
— What Is Manual Therapy?Releasing jaw, vocal, and facial tension to restore ease.
Manual therapy uses gentle, hands-on techniques to address tension and mobility in the jaw, neck, face, and sometimes inside the mouth. These areas are closely connected to both vocal and swallowing function. When they hold excess stress or restriction, the result can be tightness, strain, or discomfort — making speaking, singing, or swallowing feel more effortful.
For voice, manual therapy can be used alongside voice therapy to reduce muscle tension, improve ease of phonation, and support healthier vocal habits.
It can be especially helpful for:
Muscle tension dysphonia
Vocal fatigue or strain
Hoarseness or changes in vocal tone
Chronic jaw, neck, or facial tension
A sensation of a “sore throat” without infection
Sensations of tightness when swallowing
For swallowing, manual therapy may be used alongside swallowing therapy to ease tightness or discomfort in the head and neck. This can support mobility, reduce discomfort, and make it easier to perform swallowing exercises and movements.
This work is always tailored to your comfort level and individual goals — whether you’re addressing voice, swallowing, or both. When tension is released, your voice can move with more freedom, power, and clarity. Manual therapy helps make that possible.
— My ApproachI’ve lived this work. Now I guide it.
My introduction to bodywork started early. As a kid, my mom was a bodyworker and acupuncturist who practiced her techniques on me. I didn’t realize it at the time, but that experience helped me develop an intuitive sense for how tension moves—and how the body communicates when something’s out of sync.
That early imprint, combined with years of clinical training and hands-on practice, gives me a unique ability to sense restriction, rhythm, and readiness in the people I work with. My goal isn’t just to release tension—it’s to help clients feel more connected to their bodies and their breath, so the voice can move freely again.
You don’t have to keep pushing through discomfort, strain, or disconnection in your voice. If something isn’t feeling right, I’d love to support your process with care, collaboration, and hands-on work that helps your body find its way back to ease.
— Who I Work WithThe voice responds to what the body remembers.
Manual therapy can be a powerful support for those navigating voice tension, physical discomfort, or a sense that something in the body just isn’t moving the way it should. I work best with people who are open to collaboration and curious about what their body might be trying to say.
Clients often seek this work for:
Jaw, neck, or facial tension related to TMJ, clenching, or grinding
Voice disorders rooted in muscular tension (e.g. muscle tension dysphonia)
Vocal fatigue or vocal strain
Breathing or swallowing difficulties
While I welcome all clients, those who feel drawn to body-led work—and who are open to building self-awareness—tend to experience the greatest breakthroughs.
— What To Expect With Manual TherapySoftening through awareness.
Manual therapy sessions typically include about 20 minutes of table work, focusing on the jaw, neck, face, and oral cavity. For voice-related concerns, we may incorporate gentle vocalization alongside hands-on techniques. The process is collaborative—client and practitioner work together to build awareness, safety, and meaningful change.
During a session, you can expect:
Gentle, hands-on work that targets areas of muscular tension
Focus on the head, neck, jaw, and inside the mouth (with consent)
Optional vocalization to support voice-related goals
A quiet, attuned pace designed to meet your nervous system where it is
While the exact mechanisms behind the benefits of manual therapy are still being explored, both research and experience affirm its effectiveness: reduced pain, improved mood, released tension, and enhanced vocal and physical function. These changes may occur in the fascia, muscles, organs, or nervous system—and they are real and felt.
Influenced by my training with Walt Fritz, I believe that pain and restriction often soften when their underlying messages are acknowledged and integrated.
“…my voice now maintains its strength without the strain that I have experienced throughout my life! ”
Anita's voice training practice has allowed me to free my voice from vocal fatigue. Instead of barely being able to talk by the end of the day, my voice now maintains its strength without the strain that I have experienced throughout my life! With her care and experience, the myofunctional therapy we have been working on has also decreased my symptoms of sleep apnea which has dramatically improved my sleep quality. I can’t thank her enough and always look forward to our next session!
- Kevin H. Ready to work together? Whether you’re recovering from a voice disorder or simply trying to feel more at home in your breath and body, I’ll meet you with curiosity, care, and precision.
FAQ
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I am currently working on accepting insurance. I aim to accept insurance by fall 2025. Reach out to inquire!
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I support people navigating a wide range of voice concerns — from muscle tension dysphonia, nodules, and chronic hoarseness to vocal fatigue, paradoxical vocal fold movement, and voice loss due to overuse or injury. I also work with professional voice users (like teachers, singers, and speakers) who want to restore ease and prevent future strain.
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Voice therapy focuses on improving how your voice works — how it sounds, feels, and functions. Myofunctional therapy addresses patterns in the mouth, tongue, jaw, and breathing that may be contributing to tension or dysfunction. I often integrate both approaches to support long-term healing and more freedom in how your voice feels and performs.
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My work is both grounded and intuitive. I draw on clinical training, decades of teaching voice, and my own healing journey. While I follow evidence-based protocols, I also listen closely — to you, your body, and the subtle cues that often get overlooked. My goal is to help you reconnect with your voice through curiosity, play, and deep trust in your body’s wisdom.
Curious what led me here? Learn more about my own journey here.
Still have questions? Reach out to me here.