MY COACHING APPROACH
Ryan O'Shea
Los Angeles-based
Voice, Speech, and Communication Coach
Certified Teacher of Fitzmaurice Voicework®
Certified Teacher of Knight-Thompson Speechwork®
Certified Coach of Organic Intelligence®
Your inner world is the foundation for your outer expression.
This is the principle that will guide our work together for voice, speech, and communication. My approach combines classical training tools and more contemporary techniques that integrate your whole system – sometimes coaching involves very explicit, traditional voice, speech, and communication tools and exercises, and sometimes, it’s more implicit work focused on integrating your nervous system while speaking. At the center of my work is the belief that using your voice to communicate and share what matters to you with the world can feel good. This requires an understanding not just of the mechanics of your voice and speech, but also how your inner world — what you think and feel — affects those mechanics.
My approach isn’t going to just focus on how you sound, but on helping you feel authentic and good about what you’re saying. For many years, I was offering my clients traditional voice and speech tools which focused on working almost exclusively with outer expression — pitch, sound, range, projection, etc. — and that all felt helpful to a point…but eventually, my clients would plateau so that the traditional tools were no longer helping them grow. When I started working with Organic Intelligence®, in particular, and learned about the interactions of the human voice with psychology, our nervous systems and more, that’s where I started to find an opening to help my clients reach new levels in their voice and communication. These shifts happened when I combined the tools typically used in voice and speech training that focus on outer expression with tools that aim at finding more ease, enjoyment, and connection to the inner world.
Having goals for how you want to sound are great and I’m committed to helping you reach those goals...but I’m not just going to do scales with you. If you're interested in bettering how you sound, then I believe that you have to also be interested in bettering how you feel. I've experienced how this more holistic approach has helped my clients — and me — break new ground and reach new levels in their work. If this sounds like a way of working that interests you, then let's chat.
Pick your Path...
Here are the methods in which I’m Certified:
Fitzmaurice Voicework®:
a voice technique for actors, singers, and anyone with a voice.
Organic Intelligence®:
a modality of working with your whole complex system, based in complexity science, to find natural forms of integration, resiliency, nervous system regulation, and more.
Knight-Thompson Speechwork:
a skills-based approach to learning speech and accents.
It’s taught in drama programs across the world including Yale School of Drama, Harvard University/American Repertory Theatre’s Institute for Advanced Theatre Training, NYU Graduate Acting Program (and some NYU undergraduate studios), UC-Irvine, and hundreds of institutions around the world, as well as by freelance teachers around the world like myself. The four pillars of Fitzmaurice Voicework are:
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Destructuring: a voice and body warm-up mainly using physical exercises called Tremorwork®. Destructuring releases tension and leads to awareness and aliveness in the body. It causes spontaneous and free breathing, and leads to fuller, more resonant speaking (and singing).
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Restructuring: vocal support techniques and tools for calibrating volume so that you can effortlessly transition from speaking on-camera to a theatre or conference room.
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Presence: presence work encourages fluidity of attention so that you can be present to what matters. Presence work is helpful if you find yourself “in your head” or that your voice often becomes shaky or high-pitched when you’re in front of others. My presence work is also greatly influenced by another practice called Organic Intelligence® (read more below).
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Play: this is where we put it all together, so that you can find enjoyment in your performing and communicating.
My job as a voice and communication coach certified in Organic Intelligence® (OI™) is to spot how your system is using energy in ways that create dis-connection, and to help your system learn new forms of resilience so you can find authentic ease and re-connection while speaking or performing. OI™ is a modality that focuses on sustainable growth over time to build new thresholds of energy, creativity and imagination, connection and communication, nuance and complexity, and emotional capacity, voice capacity, and breath capacity.
As a Certified teacher of Knight-Thompson Speechwork®, I want to help actors break away from the misconceptions around learning accents or dialects so that you can reconnect to your authentic voice (regardless of the accent you’re speaking!) and really communicate what matters to you or your character. Rather than just mimicking sounds, I'll teach you the skills for developing a "detailed awareness of—and deep engagement with—the precise physical actions which make up speech."
You can learn more about how these frameworks and techniques come together to help you learn particular skills for your voice, speech and accents, public speaking, and other communication goals by reading more below.
Voice Coaching:
"After working with Ryan, I now have a way more holistic and loving perspective on voice work. I feel less anxious because I'm not constantly telling myself that I need to breathe "correctly" - I'm just breathing. I'm way more in tune with the sounds I'm making and I often surprise myself with the sounds that come out of me when I let go of control."
-Rebecca L., actor
Unlock the full potential of your voice. Whether you're aiming to adjust volume, refine your tone, or overcome vocal limitations, my coaching helps you develop a confident and expressive voice. Experience the freedom and ease of speaking and performing while feeling like your most authentic self.
Key Outcomes:
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Cultivate freedom and ease in your body and breath, growing your breath capacity and releasing extraneous tension.
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Develop dynamic expressiveness, including more variety in the expression of your voice—in pitch, volume, crying, screaming, singing, and much more—without strain.
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Gain vocal stamina and support, allowing you to speak for extended periods without fatigue or strain.
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Enhance your stage presence and confidence, feeling truly in-flow during performances.
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Integrate emotional authenticity into your voice, so that people don't just hear you, they feel you.
Drawing from principles and techniques of Fitzmaurice Voicework® and Organic Intelligence®, my voice coaching focuses on holistic vocal development. Classes and 1:1 programs combine physical exercises, mindfulness tools, and other voice and speech techniques to cultivate freedom, ease, and expressive range.
This coaching is ideal for:
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Individuals seeking to improve vocal control and reduce strain.
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Performers aiming to enhance stage presence and emotional connection.
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Professionals who need to speak confidently and effectively in various settings.
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Anyone desiring to unlock their authentic voice and express themselves with greater embodiment.
Ready to transform your voice? Contact me or schedule a consultation and learn how we can work together to achieve your vocal goals.
Public Speaking & Corporate Communication Coaching
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Two-Hour Workshops
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Two-Week Sprints
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VIP Days
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Monthly Retainer
"Ryan has been an incredible partner in elevating my public speaking and overall leadership presence. I first went to her to prep for a high profile conference, but find myself using her coaching on a daily basis. She’s taught me to harness the power of priming, helping me step into each engagement with confidence. Through her guidance, I’ve learned to use emotion, tone, and presence to maximize my impact—so much so that after a recent conference, the organizers told me my panel was the highlight of the event!"
-Stephanie, Marketing Executive at Tinder
Elevate your communication skills and command any room. My coaching programs are built on the "Five C's of Effective Communication": Clarity, Conciseness, Confidence, Compelling Delivery, and Calendar Integration. Our work focuses on practical and tangible skills that empower you to connect with your audience and achieve your professional goals.
Key Outcomes:
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Clarity: Develop scripts that get to the heart of what matters to your audience, so that your audience doesn’t just understand your message, they care. I can help you with the script-writing process, or write the script for you.
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Conciseness: Master the skill of delivering clear, concise messages that resonate with your audience.
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Confidence: Project authentic confidence and authority through tools of embodiment and other somatic practices. Learn to manage nerves and reduce overwhelm, leading to greater ease and pleasure in public speaking.
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Compelling Delivery: Captivate your audience with dynamic presentations, impactful vocal delivery, and stage presence.
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Calendar Integration: Develop a personalized plan to integrate skill development into your busy schedule.
My coaching is designed for individuals and teams looking to enhance their public speaking and corporate communication abilities. We begin with a comprehensive assessment to identify your strengths and areas for improvement. And then based on your goals, and the timeline of your next gig, we tailor a personalized plan to address your specific needs.
This coaching is ideal for:
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Professionals seeking to improve their presentation and communication skills.
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Executives and leaders aiming to enhance their influence and impact.
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Individuals preparing for high-stakes presentations, interviews, or other public speaking engagements.
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Teams looking to improve their corporate communication and collaboration.
Ready to transform your public speaking and corporate communication skills? Schedule a free consultation today to discuss your goals and create a personalized plan for success.
You can also contact me about presenting a two-hour communication workshop tailored for your org.
Speech and Accent Coaching:
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Private Coaching Programs
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Workshops
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The Art of Accents Class
"Ryan is a fabulous teacher! Extremely well prepared, she has practical handouts and many video references. Her in class exercises and explanations are quite clear and her demeanor encourages great growth in her students. I highly recommend her."
-Keiko Agena (Gilmore Girls, Prodigal Son)
Refine your speech skills and master new accents. Whether you're aiming for clearer articulation or learning a specific accent, my speech and accent coaching provides the tools and techniques you need to become a more skillful actor or speaker.
Our work might include:
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Enhanced Speech Clarity: Improve articulation and pronunciation so that you can be understood in a variety of environments and contexts.
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Master your American Accent: Confidently adopt a "So-Called-General-American" accent for professional or personal goals.
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Systematic Accent Learning: Gain a framework–the Four P’s of Accents–so you can learn any accent or dialect with accuracy and ease.
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Authentic Accent Embodiment: Develop deep understanding and embodiment of diverse accents for realistic portrayals.
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Rapid Accent Acquisition: Learn accent skills so you can quickly prepare for auditions and other performances.
As a certified teacher of Knight-Thompson Speechwork (KTS), my focus is on teaching you accent skills that are tailored to your individual goals. This approach avoids generalized, outdated stereotypes and focuses on integrating features of real speakers' accents. For actors, we emphasize focusing on real speakers that align with the background of the character you’re playing, and then break down the pronunciation, oral posture, and musicality of that speaker so that you develop an authentic and embodied accent. For those seeking "accent reduction," the goal is not to “eliminate” or “reduce” your native accent, but to add to your accent skills and speech clarity, so we focus on incorporating the details of the "So-Called-General-American" accent to your toolkit.
This coaching is ideal for:
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Actors preparing for auditions or seeking to expand their range of accents.
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Individuals aiming to improve their American accent for acting or other professional communication settings.
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Anyone looking to enhance speech clarity and articulation.
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Professionals who need to adapt to different accents for international communication.
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Those who want to learn a system for learning any accent.
Ready to refine your speech and master new accents? Contact me for private coaching programs or sign up for my mailing list to be notified about upcoming workshops and classes.
Somatic Coaching
"Ryan’s supportive presence and guidance over our time together led me to be more conscious of the synchronicities and patterns of connection that were woven through my life and how they influenced my development as an actor. Both in daily life and onstage in a recent production I find myself more open to nuance and subtlety in my body and emotional experience. Through engaging sincerely in the OI process with Ryan, the capacity to be more present and responsive to life and living is a gift that keeps giving."
-Padraic, actor
"I highly recommend the OI sessions – they deepened and strengthened the personal work I was doing both in and out of class."
-Cindy, actor and consultant
"The OI sessions were like talking to a dear friend who is very wise and very loving who helps you find space and solace around attitudes and ways of thinking that create obstacles. The practice of orientation has been a game changer for me and has given me a very simple almost joyful tool to cope with stress and nerves. It’s been such a gift."
-N.B., actor-producer
Navigate the high-pressure world with greater ease and authenticity. My somatic coaching, rooted in Organic Intelligence® (OI), is designed for artists and entrepreneurs seeking to overcome stress, unlock creative flow, and build genuine confidence. We go beyond surface-level solutions to address the core physiological aspects of your experience, empowering you to thrive in life and work.
Key Outcomes:
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Increased Creative Flow: Access and sustain your creative energy, breaking through blocks and fostering innovation.
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Enhanced Energy and Capacity: Experience higher energy levels and greater resilience to manage the demands of your work.
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Authentic Connection: Improve your ability to connect with others genuinely and confidently, fostering stronger relationships.
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Greater Ease and Enjoyment: Find more pleasure and ease in pursuing your goals, reducing stress and overwhelm.
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Deepened Self-Awareness: Develop a nuanced understanding of your body and emotions, leading to greater self-regulation.
My Somatic coaching utilizes Organic Intelligence® (OI™) to address core physiological patterns that impact your creativity and well-being. OI helps clients recognize and connect with their inherent resilience, often hidden beneath layers of self-doubt or past experiences, and helps them realize their strength and capacity to overcome challenges. Clients notice shifts in perspective, behavior, and overall well-being.
This coaching is ideal for:
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Artists experiencing creative blocks, performance anxiety, or imposter syndrome.
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Entrepreneurs facing burnout, overwhelm, or difficulty connecting with their vision.
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Individuals seeking to integrate past challenges and build greater emotional resilience.
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Anyone looking to enhance their self-awareness and develop a more grounded sense of confidence.
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People who are looking for a coaching method that works with the whole body, not just the mind.
Ready to unlock your creative potential and build authentic confidence? Contact me or schedule your free consultation to learn more about how somatic coaching can support your journey.