(Pronouns: she, her)

 

Gretchen McGinty is a classically trained actress and licensed, certified speech-language pathologist. She has her M.A. in speech-language pathology from UNC-Greensboro, and her B.F.A in Theatre from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. Gretchen is a Certified Member of the American Speech and Hearing Association (ASHA), ASHA Special Interest Group 3: Voice and Voice Disorders ASHA Special Interest Group 13: Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders, and Secretary of the Charlotte Transgender Healthcare provider group (a group of healthcare providers who specialize in care for transgender patients with a focus on maintaining clinical competency, cultural sensitivity, and advocacy).

 

After completing her clinical fellowship at Charlotte Speech and Hearing Center, she decided to focus on her true passion—voice work with adults. Gretchen worked as a voice and swallowing specialist at the Voice Center at Charlotte Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Associates (CEENTA) for six years.  In addition to treating adults with voice disorders, she gained experience in voice restoration for laryngectomy patients, treating chronic cough and PVFD (Level 1 Butyeko practitioner), treating hypophonia in patients with Parkinson’s (certified Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT) and treating swallowing disorders for patients in the head/neck cancer clinic. She became the first therapist to offer gender affirming voice therapy at the voice center, and developed a program for evaluating and training clients there.

 

As an experienced professional actress in stage, film and TV, Gretchen has been able to combine her classical vocal training and clinical knowledge to help other actors learn to utilize their best voice. She has provided voice coaching to local actors who needed help establishing and maintaining correct voice use for emotionally demanding roles or nerve wracking auditions. She has been a regular presenter as part of World Voice Day at the CPCC Sensoria Festival and for Charlotte’s Spasmodic Dysphonia support group.

 

Gretchen believes in helping others to learn to use their voice effectively, so that no barriers remain between them and pursing the life they desire.