Voice Disorders: Impact, Stigma & Healing Through Mindfulness

This episode discusses voice disorders, their impact on singers and voice users, the stigma around having a vocal injury, and how mindfulness can help with healing.   Catherine is a singer, adjunct voice instructor, mindfulness teacher and researcher.  She holds a graduate certificate in Applied Mindfulness and she offers online meditation courses specifically designed for singers and people with voice disorders. Catherine recently completed a study (which was published in The Journal of Voice) to determine whether an 8-week mindfulness course could increase mindfulness and lower stress levels in people with voice disorders. She shares with us the details and outcomes of the study.  She also reveals that mindfulness doesn't have to be complicated and that practices can be customized to how your brain works.  00:00:03 - Introduction to the Podcast00:00:14 - Discussing Voice Disorders and Mindfulness00:00:36 - Introducing Guest Catherine Kay Brown00:01:08 - Mindfulness in Voice Therapy00:01:37 - Catherine's Personal Vocal Injury Story00:04:06 - The Healing Journey and Mindfulness00:07:55 - Pursuing Mindfulness Teaching and Research00:09:30 - Stigma Around Vocal Injury00:10:04 - Advocating for Singers with Voice Disorders00:12:02 - Comparing Singers to Athletes00:12:43 - The Multifactorial Nature of Voice Disorders00:13:05 - Voice Training and Mindfulness Resources00:14:06 - Defining Mindfulness00:15:07 - Research on Mindfulness and Voice Disorders00:17:09 - Emotional Impact of Voice Disorders00:18:15 - Results of the Mindfulness Study00:19:10 - Significance of the Study's Findings00:21:17 - Acceptance and Mindfulness00:22:43 - Group Dynamics in Mindfulness Practice00:24:09 - Practical Mindfulness for Singers00:25:08 - Sharing Personal Stories in Mindfulness Course00:26:02 - Addressing Stress, Tension, Isolation, and Grief00:30:03 - Mindfulness Practice and Training00:33:19 - Mindfulness as a Skill00:37:21 - Tips for Successful Mindfulness Practice00:38:03 - Meditation and Mindfulness Misconceptions00:40:00 - Mindfulness Practice Recommendations00:42:26 - The Importance of Mindfulness Practice00:44:19 - Mindfulness Resources and Courses00:46:09 - Mindfulness Meditations for Sale   Catherine's website: catherinekbrown.com Instagram:  @ckbvoice Click here to access Catherine’s body scan meditation specifically for singers.  If you've enjoyed these episodes, please leave a 5-star review! Your support means the world! Join Alida Vocal Studio's email list for a free vocal workout, voice content and future podcast episodes.  For voice content and podcast clips follow  Alida Vocal Studio on Instagram.  www.alidavocalstudio.com