Today we’d like to introduce you to Maurice Goodwin.
Hi Maurice , thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My journey to where I am today is really a blend of two worlds: my experiences as a professional singer and my training as a medical professional. I grew up in a household of singers, so performing felt like home early on. That passion led me to study Music Performance at Shenandoah University. During my time there, I became less focused on performing and more interested in the mechanics of the voice and how to rehabilitate singers with vocal challenges.
To pursue that, I completed a graduate degree in Speech Pathology and a specialized Clinical Fellowship in voice disorders. I moved to Houston to join the Texas Voice Center at Houston Methodist Hospital, where I spent nearly seven years. Working in that medical environment alongside physicians and other specialists allowed me to refine my clinical skills, particularly with high-level performers. After years of practice in a medical setting, I realized I wanted to offer a more tailored, boutique experience for my clients. This past June, I took the jump and founded Goodwin Voice & Speech, PLLC.
Today, it’s the best of both worlds. As a Speech Pathologist, I’m licensed to provide clinical care across Texas, New York, and California, helping people navigate complex vocal challenges. As a vocal coach, I’m able to work with performers globally. Whether I’m working with a client across the Southeast Texas region or a singer on the other side of the world, my goal is the same; helping folks find, protect, love, and share their voice.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
One of the biggest struggles I faced on this path was the initial transition from a performance background into the world of medicine and therapeutic intervention as a speech language pathologist. It required a shift from an artistic perspective of the voice to a clinical and diagnostic one.
More recently, the challenges lean toward the learning curve of being a new small business owner. Stepping away from the hospital to launch Goodwin Voice & Speech meant taking on the day-to-day operational side of a local small business.
I believe these challenges are exactly why I connect so well with my clients today. I’ve been in their ‘performance’ shoes, I understand the pressure and toll that a voice problem can take. The struggles I faced to bridge the creative and clinical worlds is what now allows me to ‘translate’ often complex medical concepts into tools that performers can actually understand and use. I am grateful to be able to do that for other folks.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
I am a licensed and certified Speech-Language Pathologist with eight years of clinical training in medical voice settings. My practice, Goodwin Voice & Speech, PLLC, is dedicated to the intersection of vocal health and performance for folks with high level voice demands. I work with performers, business coaches, therapists, lawyers, pastors, and anyone who depends on their voice to do what they do best.
As a clinician, I am primarily known for working with high-level vocal performers who are navigating vocal and performance challenges. My work is split evenly between in-person sessions here in Houston and virtual tele-practice for clients across the country.
What makes my approach and what I offer unique is how I blend the skills of a vocal coach with the therapeutic knowledge of a clinician. I understand voice function and physiology on a medical level, but I also understand the demands of folks who depend on their voice for work and communication. Because I’ve spent years in an intense hospital setting, I can translate complex physiological issues into actionable tools that help performers get better, faster.
I am most proud of the individualized care I can now provide. Moving into private practice allowed me to step away from the high-volume pace of a busy clinical setting to focus on each client’s specific needs. I’ve also built a collaborative network across Houston, working alongside ENTs, musicians, teachers, and healthcare professionals to ensure all clients have access to the most comprehensive care possible.
Whether you are looking for performance coaching or clinical intervention for a voice disorder, my goal is to meet their specific vocal needs. I am licensed to see clinical patients in Texas, New York, and California, and I offer vocal coaching to clients here in Houston and around the world. My practice is about giving performers the tools they need to protect their instrument and sustain their careers.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
The most important advice I can give is to prioritize mentorship on whatever journey you may find yourself on. Throughout my education and my time in clinical practice, having mentors I could depend on was invaluable. This was helpful not just for clinical questions, but for navigating the challenges of being a small business owner.
My best advice is to find the people who can help you reach your next milestone and the steps beyond that. Don’t be afraid if those mentors change as you grow; different stages of your career will require different types of guidance.
I wish I had better understood and acknowledged the value (and deep lessons) patience has to offer when starting out. My practice didn’t happen overnight. Goodwin Voice & Speech began as a very small part of my life over three years ago. It took nearly two and a half years of intentional planning, preparation, and seeking guidance before I felt ready to transition into it full-time. Success in many fields is often a slow build, so give yourself the time to build a foundation you can actually depend on.
Pricing:
- Not necessarily pricing, but as a clinical speech pathologist licensed in the state of Texas, many of the services I offer are eligible for reimbursement through insurance to treat medical conditions related to the voice.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mauricegoodwin.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maurice_goodwin/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mauricegoodwin/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MauriceGoodwin
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@maurice_goodwin
