From Song to Healing: Lerina’s Journey into Voice Movement Therapy (VMT)

In a recent ThriveGem podcast interview, Lerina, a renowned Voice Movement Therapy (VMT) practitioner and voice coach, shared her inspiring story of how music, passion, and personal growth led her to VMT. Her journey is a compelling narrative of transformation, healing, and teaching, which continues to touch the lives of many.

A Lifelong Passion for Music

Lerina’s love for music began at an early age. As a child, when asked what she wanted to be, her answer was always, “I want to sing.” Though she initially pursued a career as a performer, she quickly realized that life on stage wasn’t for her. Instead, she found joy and fulfilment in teaching. “I just love working with people’s voices,” she explains. But by the time she turned 35, she felt a deeper calling and sensed she needed something more. When a mail about Voice Movement Therapy (VMT) appeared unexpectedly, she knew it was the next step in her journey. The training was life-changing, leading her to fully understand herself and her ability to help others through the power of voice.

Core Passions That Drive Her Work

Lerina highlights her three core passions: music, teaching, and helping people. Vocal coaching and VMT have become the avenues through which these passions intertwine. While vocal coaching allows her to nurture musical talent, VMT helps her clients overcome emotional and psychological barriers through voice and movement, assisting them to reach new levels of confidence and healing.

Milestones and Transformative Moments

Several moments stand out as transformative in Lerina’s career. One was the first time a student called to say, “I understand it now,” after a vocal lesson. Another came during her work with a client who had a mental disability. Initially, Lerina meticulously planned each session. But as the sessions progressed, her client took control of the process, teaching Lerina to trust the journey rather than always try to steer it. This client, who had started so timidly, eventually gained the confidence to sing on stage with a band, a powerful testimony to the impact of VMT.

Challenges in Establishing Her Practice

Finding a suitable space for her work was initially challenging. Voice work demands a safe environment where clients can express themselves without inhibition. This struggle, however, was alleviated during the COVID-19 pandemic, when virtual sessions became possible, allowing clients to work from the safety of their homes. Additionally, Lerina received significant support from the Norma Canner Foundation, which sponsored the building of a dedicated hall on her property. This new space has since become a sanctuary for her VMT practice.

The Power of VMT and Its Impact

Voice Movement Therapy is an integrative practice that helps individuals release emotions, trauma, and stress through voice and movement. For Lerina, VMT is about guiding clients from their heads into their bodies, helping them achieve an “embodied voice.” A memorable breakthrough with one client occurred when they discovered this concept while submerged in water during a bath. This client, who had always struggled to articulate, found profound freedom by allowing their voice to embody sound rather than just produce it. Such breakthroughs are common in Lerina’s practice, where no sound or movement is judged as “wrong,” and clients are encouraged to explore their authentic selves.

Future Aspirations and Collaborations

Lerina is not only focused on one-on-one work with clients but is also dedicated to expanding the VMT community. After serving on the IAVMT board of Voice Movement Therapy for three years, she stepped down last year to focus on leading ongoing VMT training programs, conducting workshops, and collaborating with the Creative Healing Hive group. This collective is actively organizing workshops that blend VMT with other healing modalities, creating opportunities for holistic growth and wellness.

Looking ahead, Lerina sees immense potential for VMT to flourish. She believes that as artificial intelligence takes over many mundane tasks, people will increasingly seek out healing and creative outlets like VMT. “I think there’s a huge market for it,” she says, adding that the healing power of voice and movement is something technology cannot replace.

Personal Reflections

On a personal level, Lerina continues to use VMT for her own healing and wellness. Whether it’s navigating a tough day or dealing with emotional challenges, she finds solace in the techniques she teaches. She encourages others to let go of judgment and embrace their voice for what it is, not what they think it should be. “Don’t try to be or sound like someone else. Just be yourself,” she advises.

Lerina’s journey from performer to voice coach and VMT practitioner is a testament to the healing power of sound and the strength of trusting the process. Her story is one of personal growth, empowerment, and a passion for helping others discover the unique strength of their voices.