54. How Voice Reveals Emotion Beyond Words in Therapy

In this episode of the Connection Therapy Podcast, Dr. Brenda Murrow explores the concept of voice prosody — the way something is said beyond the words themselves. Prosody includes the tone, pitch, rhythm, and other vocal qualities that carry emotional meaning and influence how language is experienced, which has implications for therapy.Dr. Murrow draws from her personal experience with voice differences and discusses recent research, including a 2025 study showing that emotions such as sadness, anger, and joy can be effectively conveyed and recognized through a single spoken word. The episode covers the clinical importance of listening for emotional patterns, shifts, and rhythms in clients’ voices. Paying attention to these elements can reveal underlying feelings that may not be expressed through words alone. This is particularly valuable in trauma-informed and developmental work, where clients’ voices may reflect earlier developmental stages or past experiences, providing additional insight for sensitive intervention.Dr. Murrow offers practical guidance for therapists on how to incorporate observations about prosody into therapy sessions. She emphasizes approaching this with curiosity and sensitivity to create a safe environment where clients can become aware of emotional patterns without feeling pressured or uncomfortable.Ultimately, voice prosody provides a unique perspective on client experience. Attuning to both what is said and how it is said supports stronger therapeutic connection and can improve the effectiveness of clinical interventions.Enjoying the podcast?There are now playlists for you to navigate to your favorite topics: https://connection-therapy.com/playlistReferences:Coulombe, V., Martel-Sauvageau, V. & Monetta, L. The Expression of Vocal Emotions in Cognitively Healthy Adult Speakers: Impact of Emotion Category, Gender, and Age. J Nonverbal Behav 49, 35–51 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10919-024-00472-x