Image 1 of 1
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
QUESTION: Why an 8-week mindfulness course?
ANSWER: Mindfulness teacher Jon Kabat-Zinn created the Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program in 1979. It was developed to treat stress, but evolved “to alleviate suffering associated with physical, psychosomatic and psychiatric disorders” (Niazi, 2011), including anxiety, depression, pain, chronic illness, and unexplained medical symptoms. The course is offered in over 200 medical centers worldwide. I am the first and only person to study the effects of an 8-week mindfulness course in people with voice disorders. The curriculum used in the course is the same one used in my published study (Brown, 2023).
QUESTION: Can I get the same results from using a mindfulness app for 8 weeks?
ANSWER: Possibly, but probably not. There are a number of benefits from practicing mindfulness in a group. First, you have a teacher to help you when you feel “stuck.” A lot of people stop meditating if it gets difficult, but a skilled teacher can help you through it. Second, it's hard to establish new habits, but the group holds you accountable and keeps you practicing regularly. (And we talk a lot about practice strategies.) Third, people with voice disorders often feel alone in their condition, and it can be deeply healing to experience community with people who understand. Participants end up learning so much from each other. Fourth, mindfulness teachers are trained in a process called inquiry, which involves leading discussions in a way that takes learning deeper than solo practice can do. Finally, research indicates that the group format itself directly contributes to positive outcomes (Imel, 2008).
QUESTION: How can mindfulness help people with voice disorders?
ANSWER:
1) Stress can make voice symptoms worse, but mindfulness offers us new ways to respond to stress.
2) Mindfulness can help us release physical tension, which can improve some voice symptoms.
3) Mindfulness can increase somatic (bodily) awareness, which may make vocal change more efficient.
4) Mindfulness can help us process the grief that comes with voice loss.
5) Mindfulness can provide a pathway towards acceptance.
(Brown, 2023)
QUESTION: Who developed and teaches the course?
ANSWER: The course is based on the model established by Jon Kabat-Zinn. However, I (Catherine Brown) have adapted it for people with voice disorders. I am a singing teacher with a graduate certificate in applied mindfulness. In high school, I developed vocal paresis and muscle tension dysphonia after having the flu. I knew right away that something was wrong, but it took 10 years to get a diagnosis. By the time I finally started voice therapy, tension was strangling me. I signed up for a mindfulness course and found that it helped tremendously. My paresis worsened after a second bout of flu, and I decided to become a mindfulness teacher and study whether mindfulness could improve voice disorder symptoms in others. Read more about my story.
QUESTION: I'm too busy for the upcoming session. How often is the course offered?
ANSWER: I typically offer the course once in the fall and once or twice in the spring.
QUESTION: Can you explain your pricing?
ANSWER: A typical 8-week mindfulness course, which is not specifically tailored to people with voice disorders, costs between $300 and $600. I deliberately keep my price low to help make it as accessible as possible. I realize that it is a significant investment of both time and money. Part participants have said that the opportunity to practice mindfulness with other people with voice disorders is one of the most fulfilling aspects of the course.
QUESTION: Do you offer refunds?
ANSWER: Not usually. I have offered refunds in the past for very specific situations (for example, if some had a health issue that kept them from completing the course). However, I do not routinely offer refunds, and I do not offer them due to scheduling conflicts. Instead of offering refunds, I may invite a participant to return for the next session at no additional cost. (This policy may change if a larger number of people sign up for the course.)
QUESTION: How many people typically attend the course?
ANSWER: In the past, it has ranged from 4-10 people. I cap each course at 15 participants.
QUESTION: What have previous participants said about the course?
ANSWER: Participant with SD: “The timing of your mindfulness course could not have been better for me. I am so grateful for your knowledge of voice disorders and the support, skills, and resources you provide to your participants. In both courses [she took it twice], meeting others who sound like me and understand what I am experiencing helped me immeasurably.”
REFERENCES
Brown CK, Vazquez J, Metz SM, McCown D. Effects of an 8-Week Mindfulness Course in People With Voice Disorders. Journal of Voice. Published online November 15, 2023:S0892-1997(23)00353-3.
Imel Z, Baldwin S, Bonus K, Maccoon D. Beyond the individual: group effects in mindfulness-based stress reduction. Psychotherapy Research. 2008;18(6):735-742.
Niazi AK, Niazi SK. Mindfulness-based stress reduction: a non-pharmacological approach for chronic illnesses. North American Journal of Medical Sciences. 2011;3(1):20-23.
More information about mindfulness for people with voice disorders:
Webinar for Dysphonia International: This webinar includes a summary of my research into mindfulness for people with voice disorders and a mindfulness practice (The Body Scan). It’s an excellent overview of what my mindfulness classes involve, who they can help, and how.