Singing and voice lessons in Paris and online for when the world feels too much

Kayla Collingwood

Oct 16

9 min read

Scrolling the news and feeling the anxiety build? Lying awake running through everything that is going wrong? Starting to wonder what any of it is for?

If you feel stressed, burnt out, hopeless, or caught in nihilism because of the state of the world, singing and voice lessons can be a supportive, expressive, and integrated way to look after your wellbeing. They can sit alongside therapy, or be another route if therapy is not what you want right now. They are not a substitute for mental health care.

People often tell me they sought out lessons to connect with their voice, and with their humanity, in an increasingly disconnected world, and to do something for their wellbeing. If that is what you are looking for, I teach in person in Paris and online, in English and French. Below, I explain how voice work can help, how it fits with therapy, and what to expect before you book.

About Me

I am a contralto classical singer and voice teacher, originally from New Zealand. I have lived in France since 2020, and I teach in the Paris area and online, in English and French. I teach classical, musical theatre, and contemporary styles of singing, as well as more holistic voice work, and I adapt lessons to each student's goals.

My teaching is grounded in voice science and a trauma-informed approach. I hold a Master of Music in Classical Voice, a Graduate Certificate in Theatre Studies, and multiple certifications in vocal anatomy, pedagogy, trauma-informed practices, and non-clinical therapeutic interventions.

I also write this from lived experience. I went through (and continue to process) my own journey of religious deconstruction alongside intensive therapy. Through that, and through my work with students, I have seen how life experience shows up in the voice in very concrete ways, and how voice work can give you powerful tools for facing life's challenges.

The weight of the world

Many people are carrying heavy burdens in the modern world, beyond day-to-day struggles. Climate fear. A sense of nihilism. Worry about what artificial intelligence will do to work, creativity, and the line between fact and fiction. Fear and powerlessness in the face of politics, wars, and injustices that we watch unfold and cannot influence.

If you find yourself doomscrolling, losing sleep, or caught between rage and numbness, know that these are understandable reactions to a heavy, fast, and uncertain time. Even when it is normal, it can still leave you feeling exhausted, powerless, and disconnected, from other people and from yourself.

When you need more than calm

Much of the standard advice for hard times asks you to turn inward. Journal. Breathe slowly. Find your safe space. Find your calm. For many people, at certain points in life, and in certain contexts, that helps. I encourage these practices in voice lessons too. Breath coordination is essential for liberated singing, and a notebook or journal helps you analyse your practice sessions, note what to remember from lessons, rehearsals, and workshops, and keep track of your progress.

But not every part of you needs calming. Anger, grief, and fear about things that are really happening often need to be expressed! Holding them in can do more harm than good. When the cause of your distress is tangled up in events and systems you did not choose, “regulation” can feel like placation. Expressing your emotions, thoughts, and opinions outwardly matters, both for your wellbeing and for creating change in the world around you. Learning to use your voice more effectively is empowering.

Can singing lessons help with mental health challenges?

Voice lessons can support your wellbeing, and how capable you feel handling relationships, situations, and everyday life. Voice work alone will not fix the world. What it can do is give you agency, in your own body and your own voice.

Your voice is both private and public. It is a direct connection to the self, and it is how you reach other people. Singing is physical, expressive, and whole-body. It is not a treatment for any condition, though many people find singing and voice work therapeutic.

Over time, learning to use your voice builds:

A sense of being heard. In a lesson, I want to hear you. I am not afraid of your messiness, your authenticity, or your humanity (within respectful boundaries, of course). I give you the tools to express yourself healthily and sustainably.
Room for the whole spectrum of emotional expression. Song repertoire is storytelling, and many of those stories are full of big emotions. That is why we add music to what words alone cannot carry. Singing gives you a safe way to express these feelings, along with the sensations and experiences words do not always hold.
Mind-body-voice connection. You learn to notice what is happening in your body as you make sound, and to link it with what you think and feel. Many people find this brings a practical, non-judgemental, analytical kind of self-awareness.
Control and a wider palette of sounds. You gain skills and options over pitch, volume, tone, and more, so your voice does what you intend in a variety of situations. Soft, bright, dark, airy, ringing, raw: the more sounds you can make, the more ways you have to say what you mean. It carries into everyday life, including relationships and work.
Progress you can hear. Singing is a practical skill, and you can hear yourself improve. If you feel powerless, tangible tools matter.

The relationship between voice lessons and therapy

Therapy is valuable, and I encourage anyone who needs it to seek it out. Voice lessons are not therapy. I am a singing teacher trained in non-clinical therapeutic interventions, which means I draw on therapy-informed practices ethically outside a clinical setting, and I refer out when someone needs more. I do not diagnose, treat, or process trauma directly.

Voice lessons can be an alternative when therapy is not possible. Some people are on a waiting list, have not found the right therapist, or find that the methods they have tried are not meeting their needs. Others are already in therapy and want something alongside it.

	Therapy	Voice lessons with me
Led by	A licensed mental health professional, such as a psychologist or psychiatrist	A trauma-informed, qualified singing teacher and voice educator
Focus	Mental health, emotional processing, and treatment where needed	Embodied expression, skill development, and expansion of vocal choices
How to use it	For clinical care and support	A standalone personal growth and wellbeing practice, or alongside therapy

If you are struggling with self-harm or suicidal thoughts, a qualified mental health professional is the right person to see. If you are in crisis, please contact emergency services. Voice lessons are only suitable once you are stable enough to take part safely.

What is a trauma-informed singing lesson?

A trauma-informed singing lesson is built on six widely used principles, set out by SAMHSA (the US Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration). They were written for health and social services, but many people in different fields adapt them to their own context. Here is how each one can look in a lesson:

Safety. We discuss your experiences, goals, etc at the beginning of each lesson, and determine an initial direction for the lesson. Typically, lessons follow more or less the same structure, but the content will vary. You can ask for a breather at any point, and I pay attention to signs of disregulation which may be building.
Trustworthiness and transparency. I explain what we are doing and why, and I strive to make expectations, boundaries, and practicalities clear. I do not share personal details outside your lesson space, unless there is a serious safety concern with legal consequences.
Peer support. In a 1:1 lesson, although the teacher-student dynamic is a little different, I am here to support you in the learning environment. Meeting others who have similar interests and experiences is a great thing to explore - I offer group workshops and performance opportunities, and encourage joining things like open mic nights and choirs.
Collaboration and mutuality. We work as a team. You are the expert on your own experience, and I bring knowledge of how the voice works.
Empowerment, voice, and choice. Consent is central. You have options about what to sing, how far to go, what to share, and when to stop. You are encouraged throughout the lesson to express your experiences, sensations, and emotions, and opinions throughout the work we are doing, however you are able to. You may ask questions, and I do my best to answer them thoughtfully.
Cultural, historical, and gender issues. Everyone arrives with their own background, identity, and experiences, which shape how they experience their voice, the lesson space, and our dynamic. I keep learning so my methods reflect current best practice.

Safety is the principle that can feel hardest to reach in an uncertain world. When a threat is ongoing and outside your control, safety can feel impossible to find. I do my best to create a safe lesson environment, and we work together on building your vocal skill so you can feel empowered to use your voice and balance the scale.

Deconstruction, nihilism, and trauma

Many people who turn to voice work are in the middle of deconstruction of some kind. That means taking apart the beliefs you were raised with, or the systems you once trusted, and finding out what is left. It can be about faith, politics, family, culture, work, or the story you were told about how the world works. It often brings grief, anger, and disorientation. It can leave you without the meaning, community, and certainty you once relied on, and nihilism is a common place to land. Britt Hartley, an atheist spiritual director who specialises in religious deconstruction and nihilism recovery, has some great content about concepts like this.

Religious deconstruction is the lens I come from. High-control religious environments often teach that speaking up is unsafe and that your own responses cannot be trusted. Other controlling environments, such as families, workplaces, political environments, and communities, can do something similar.

Rebuilding your relationship with your voice is a way of making your own choices again. My approach is secular, with no religious or spiritual framing. If religion is part of your story, this is my area of specialisation, so I am very happy to help you navigate it, in a way which is appropriate as a voice teacher rather than a therapist.

What happens in a singing lesson with me?

A first lesson starts with getting to know you: your experiences, your goals, and your challenges. If you are mainly here for singing, I give you a short vocal anatomy presentation, then we move on to vocal exercises and repertoire. If you are here for wellbeing, we begin to explore breath, movement, and sound, both spoken and sung, so you can start making discoveries and I can understand what you need.

Future lessons start with a short check-in. How are you? Is there anything important I need to know? Is there anything you would like to bring up or look at? Lessons are adapted to you. The better I know you, the more we can hone in on what will optimise your growth.

Before you book: common questions

Do I need singing experience?

Not at all. I work with people at all levels of skill and experience, from total beginners to professionals.

Do I have to perform or sing in front of people?

No (except me! - but even then, sometimes we need to work up to it). Performance is never an obligation, although it is encouraged if you are interested once you have progressed enough to sing confidently and securely.

What if I get emotional in a lesson?

Tears, yawns, heightened nervous systems, and more can all show up in voice work. We take a pause, we stabilise, and we adjust the task or move on to a new one as necessary. If you need more support than a voice lesson can offer, I will tell you and point you to the right person.

Do I have to talk about what I am going through?

No. You decide what to disclose, if anything. Many people share their experiences in their own time, as things surface. I am there to listen, to explore how these experiences may be showing up in our work, and to offer suggestions, but not to treat in the way a therapist would.

Where do you teach, and in which languages?

I teach both in-person lessons in Paris area, and online. I teach in English or French, but my knowledge of languages and linguistics for singing means that if you forget a word in either language, for some languages I may be able to understand, or we will find a way for you to be understood!

How much do lessons cost, and how often do we meet?

Current prices and availability are on my teaching page. I offer weekly and flexible lesson options to suit your schedule, budget, and capacity for this kind of work.

Do you offer group options?

Yes. I run group workshops, including Breath & Bloom, which is designed with wellbeing in mind (both calm activities and expressive activities). You can see current workshops.

How do I book a first lesson?

Visit my teaching page, fill out the enquiry form, and I will send you the details. A single lesson is a low-pressure way to see whether my teaching style suits you, or you can book regular lessons right away (if I have matching availability).