ServicesMyofunctional Therapy
By improving foundational functions like breathing and sleep, myofunctional therapy can help regulate the nervous system—shifting the body out of stress and into restoration. For children, it can also support healthy facial growth, speech development, and focus. Its impact ripples through every system, influencing immunity, cellular health, and how we feel day to day.
— What Is Myofunctional Therapy?Repatterning for ease, breath, and balance.
Think of myofunctional therapy as exercise-based rehabilitation for the muscles of the mouth, face, and jaw. These muscles influence how we breathe, swallow, sleep, and how the airway and facial structure develop over time—especially in children. Targeted exercises help retrain these patterns to support nasal breathing, proper tongue posture, efficient swallowing, and more restful sleep for kids and adults alike.
This work may support people who are managing conditions such as:
Sleep apnea and snoring — as part of a care plan guided by a medical provider
Children’s sleep and nighttime breathing concerns
TMJ dysfunction, clenching, and teeth grinding
Tongue tie (before or after release, in coordination with your provider)
Chronic tension in the neck, jaw, or upper back
Children’s facial growth and dental alignment — in collaboration with dental/orthodontic care, it may help reduce the need for orthodontics or prevent relapse
Myofunctional therapy is not a substitute for medical or dental treatment. It focuses on improving muscle function and patterns in the mouth, face, and throat, which may complement other care you are receiving.
Because voice, breath, and posture are deeply connected, many clients find this work essential to lasting vocal health. If you’ve been managing symptoms that don’t resolve, this might be the missing piece.
— My ApproachI’ve lived this work. Now I guide it.
My approach is deeply personalized, spacious, and rooted in both clinical expertise and lived experience. Unlike high-volume clinics, I take time to thoughtfully prepare for each session—tailoring treatment to your unique goals, sleep patterns, and overall well-being.
I’ve completed advanced training with the Academy of Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy (twice) and experienced therapy myself with one of the field’s most respected clinicians. That firsthand experience reshaped how I breathe, sleep, and move through the world—and I bring that insight to the work I do with clients.
As a singer and speech-language pathologist, I’ve spent years mapping the oral musculature from both inside and out. You’ll notice I think in 3D—tracking how muscles move, compensate, and affect everything from airflow to speech. This work goes beyond exercises; it’s about uncovering patterns and creating lasting change with clarity, precision, and care.
Above all, I aim to make the process collaborative, grounded, and—yes—even fun. With kids, that might mean turning tongue exercises into games, using songs to make practice stick, or weaving in playful challenges that keep them engaged. I’ve supported both adults and children (including my own) through this journey, and I bring a whole-body lens to every session.
— Who I Work WithWhen the body signals something deeper, I help make sense of it.
I most often work with adults and children dealing with breathing, sleep, jaw, or swallowing concerns, as well as children with oral habits (e.g., thumb or finger sucking) that may impact dental and facial development. Myofunctional therapy is well established in improving nasal breathing, reducing jaw tension, supporting orthodontic stability, and reducing symptoms related to sleep-disordered breathing.
I’m particularly equipped to help:
People with jaw pain or diagnosed TMD
Adults or children with snoring, sleep apnea, or other breathing-related concerns
Children with oral habits or early signs of airway dysfunction
Singers and speakers experiencing persistent vocal tension or suspected tongue tie
I first discovered orofacial myofunctional therapy through my own singing practice — and it was life-changing. That experience sparked a deep passion for helping singers and speakers with persistent tension that hasn’t resolved through technique alone, especially those who suspect a structural component like tongue tie may be involved.
If you’d like to learn more about how this work became part of my own healing path, read more about my story.
— What To Expect With Myofunctional TherapyWork that meets you where you are.
Each session is tailored to help you retrain the muscles of the mouth, face, and airway using precise, functional exercises. Like physical therapy—but for your tongue, lips, cheeks, and jaw—this work builds strength, coordination, and awareness in ways that support long-term change.
Sessions may include:
Customized exercises to improve nasal breathing, swallowing, and tongue posture
Habit retraining (e.g. reducing mouth breathing, thumb sucking, or clenching)
Gentle manual therapy or alignment-focused movement
Education and tools to support consistent at-home practice
Guidance for pre- or post-tongue tie release when needed
You’ll leave each session with a simple, doable plan—and a deeper understanding of how your body functions. Whether you’re here to improve sleep, reduce jaw pain, prepare for a release, or support your voice, we’ll go at your pace and stay grounded in what matters most to you.
This work is empowering, collaborative, and never one-size-fits-all. I’ll cheer you on, hold you accountable, and reflect the progress you're making—often in ways you didn’t expect.
“She is very creative and so good at individualizing her therapeutic suggestions.”
I saw Anita several times for myofunctional therapy and found her great to work with. I also sing and particularly appreciated how her mf work with me also helped my voice. She is very creative and so good at individualizing her therapeutic suggestions.
- Barbara 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.