Today we’d like to introduce you to Araine McWhinney.
Hi Araine, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
From a very young age, I always knew I was different, and I knew I was destined for a bigger purpose. I’ve always had an unction that I would be a creator, innovator, and educator. That feeling paired with my supportive family and teachers helped mold me into the person and professional I am today. When I look back, there were several subtle and monumental events that took place, which led me on the path to creating True Voice, LLC.
While I was in grade school, my teachers often paired me with classmates who needed peer-to-peer assistance. I loved the level of responsibility that gave me, even at a young age. As I reflect on that time in my life, my nice gestures and friendly demeanor was someone else’s moment of clarity and acceptance. It was during those years that a seed was planted within in me, and I didn’t even know it. I carried those moments with me throughout graduate school, but I struggled with finding out how I would “fit in” and still be my spunky, spontaneous, innovative, and creative self. Ironically, that struggle I faced is what propelled me to be in the right places at the right time.
So, let’s fast forward to the year 2017. By then, I had a career at one of the best rehabilitation hospitals in the nation working as a Speech-Language Pathologist treating stroke survivors, traumatic brain injury survivors, and head and neck cancer survivors. During that time in my life, I was blessed with an amazing mentor, and I had the opportunity to meet several business owners and clinical professionals who encouraged and spoke life into me. At that time, True Voice was a dream I knew I wanted to move forward with, but I wasn’t sure when or how that would happen.
That is until Hurricane Harvey hit the Houston area. I vividly remember my job instructing everyone to go home early and prepare because no one knew what was going to happen. As I watched the news and saw what was happening, I immediately thought of my patients who were unable to communicate that they needed help. That’s when True Voice transitioned from a thought to a vision with purpose.
Then in 2019, True Voice was formally created and has been serving the Houston community and the state of Texas with quality in-person and telehealth speech therapy services. Now, True Voice has grown to include parent/family coaching, clinical mentorship, and clinical supervision in addition to services that are already offered.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I can definitely say that the road to get to this point wasn’t as smooth as I thought it would be. Even though I knew the direction I wanted to take the business in, there was so much that I still didn’t know. Everything from logistics to funding, all the way to marketing and branding which are two totally different things.
I also learned that while in the building stages of my business, I had to protect my vision. Meaning I couldn’t let the doubts of others sway me away from what I’ve been called to do. That can lead to feeling isolated at times, which was another struggle I had to work through.
Another difficult time was when things appeared to be progressing really slow within my business. At one point, I wasn’t making any money, I mean nothing at all. Whew! LOL. That was a really difficult time because we were right in the middle of COVID, and here I was trying to grow my business. However, having a strong support system and a mentor is what kept me encouraged and my spirits lifted to make it through.
Even after all of that, I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
As a licensed and certified Speech-Language Pathologist, I specialize in identifying communication barriers and provide parents and families with the tools they need for their children to achieve educational success. I would say I’m most known for my ability to quickly identify a communication need, provide a solution (therapy or treatment plan), and teach my clients and their families how to apply it so they can have a better quality of life.
I’m most proud of the fact that my clients and families directly benefit from the work I’m doing. I’m also blessed to be able to lead interactive hands-on learning opportunities and connect with undergraduate/graduate-level students in the initial stages of their careers.
I believe what sets me apart is my character and the genuine love I have for people. I truly want to leave the world a better place.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you, or support you?
Families living within in the state of Texas who need a speech-language pathologist can receive services through True Voice’s virtual therapy platform. It’s convenient, and you can do it right from the comfort of your own home. For families residing in Houston, in-person services and parent/family coaching is offered, and I’m ready and willing to help.
I’m always looking to collaborate with other professionals, universities, and local government agencies. If there is a need that I’m able to fill, let’s connect and work together!
One of the best ways to show support is to spread the word and tell someone about True Voice and the work that I do.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.truevoiceslp.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truevoiceslp/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/truevoiceslp/
- Other: https://linktr.ee/Truevoice
