Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to common questions about the Speech Clarity Consultation, coaching programs, scheduling, payment, and results. If you do not find what you are looking for, reach out directly to Contact Claire →
About The Free Speech Clarity Consult
What is the Free Speech Clarity Consult?
A free 15-minute session via Zoom. I listen to how you communicate, share what I am hearing, and walk you through the coaching programs to see whether this is the right fit for where you are right now. There is no obligation to enroll.
Who is the Free Speech Clarity Consult for?
It is for multilingual doctors, nurses, pilots, and call center and BPO professionals who are fluent in English but are asked to repeat themselves more than they should be, or whose speech becomes less clear under pressure. If you are still building foundational English skills, this is not the right starting point.
Is the consult required before I can enroll?
Yes. Every client relationship begins with the Free Speech Clarity Consult. It gives us both a clear picture of whether coaching is the right fit.
Do I have to commit to a program during the consult?
No. Take whatever time you need after the call. There is no pressure to decide on the spot.
What if we are not a good fit?
I will tell you directly. Depending on what I hear, I may suggest you are already communicating clearly enough for your context, recommend a different type of specialist, or refer you to resources better suited to what you need. Not everyone needs what I offer, and that is fine.
What do I need to prepare before the consult?
Nothing. Come ready to have a conversation about your communication and what you are hoping to address.
What can I expect to leave the consult with?
A real sense of what is affecting your clarity and whether coaching is the right fit for where you are right now. You will leave the conversation with something useful, not a sales pitch.
Is the consult available to professionals outside the US?
Yes. All sessions are via Zoom and I work with professionals worldwide. If you are working in an American English professional context, this coaching applies directly. Just account for the time zone difference when booking.
Want to know what to expect before you book? Learn more about the consult →
About The Coaching Programs
Which program should I choose?
The 4-week intensive is the right fit if you have a specific deadline or event within the next month and can commit to 30 to 45 minutes of daily practice. The 12-week program is the right fit if you want comprehensive improvement across multiple sounds and patterns at a more sustainable pace. Some clients complete the intensive first and continue into the 12-week program from there. If you are not sure, the Free Speech Clarity Consult will answer that question before you decide anything.
What professionals do you work with?
I work with multilingual doctors, nurses, pilots, and call center and BPO professionals. All are fluent in English and competent in their field. The specific clarity demands differ by role, and every program is built around your professional context, your first language influences, and the communication situations that matter most in your setting.
Can I switch programs after I start?
Yes. If you begin the intensive and want to continue into the 12-week program, we can discuss options and adjust accordingly.
How long until I see results?
Most clients notice a difference within three to four weeks of consistent practice. Making those changes automatic, so clarity holds under pressure, typically takes eight to twelve weeks. That is the core purpose of the comprehensive program.
What if I am too busy to practice between sessions?
You will not see much improvement. This work requires consistent daily practice, around 20 to 30 minutes. If you are in an unusually demanding period right now, it is worth waiting until you have the bandwidth to commit fully.
Do you work with non-native English speakers?
Yes, but only if you are already fluent. This coaching is for multilingual doctors, nurses, pilots, and call center and BPO professionals who have strong English vocabulary and grammar but whose speech clarity breaks down under pressure. If you are still building foundational English skills, I can refer you to ESL programs that would be more appropriate.
Will I lose my accent?
No, and that is not the goal. The goal is clarity, so you are understood the first time while still sounding like yourself.
Will the improvements last after the program ends?
Yes, if you maintain them. Speech clarity is a skill, and like any skill it can drift without attention. That is why many graduates schedule occasional tune-up sessions to stay on track or prepare for specific events.
What if I do not improve after the program?
If you are practicing consistently and not seeing results by week four, we reassess. Sometimes the issue is not accent-related. It may be volume, pacing under stress, or something else within the scope of what we can work on together. There are also factors outside the coaching, such as listener bias, that I will name honestly if they appear to be part of what you are navigating. I will always be direct about whether continued coaching makes sense.
Can you guarantee I will be understood perfectly?
No. What I can do is make your speech as clear, consistent, and professional as possible. Most clients report a significant reduction in being asked to repeat themselves.
What if my problem is not actually my accent?
That is one of the things the Free Speech Clarity Consult is designed to surface. If the issue is volume, pacing, or something else within the scope of speech clarity coaching, we address it. If listener bias is a significant factor, I will name it directly during that call. It is outside what coaching can fix, and you deserve to know that clearly rather than invest in a program that cannot solve it.
How is this different from using an app?
Apps are useful for noticing individual sounds, practicing in isolation, and building awareness of pronunciation patterns at your own pace. They stop there.
This coaching addresses communication that needs to work under pressure, with real-time feedback on your specific speech patterns, practice drawn from your actual work situations, and attention to rhythm, timing, and vocal presence, not just sounds.
For a fuller look at why this matters for your role:
Doctors: Apps and Accent Classes Do Not Train Clinical Communication →
Nurses: Apps and Accent Classes Do Not Train Bedside Communication →
Pilots: Apps and Accent Classes Do Not Train Cockpit Communication →
Call Center and BPO: Why Accent Neutralization Programs Do Not Train Real Client Communication →
Is this the same as accent neutralization or accent reduction training?
No. Accent neutralization programs aim to replace your accent with a standardized American sound. That is not what this is. This coaching identifies the specific patterns affecting your clarity in professional settings and refines those, without asking you to sound like someone you are not. The goal is speech that is reliable and authoritative in your professional context, not accent removal.
Do you work with Filipino professionals in call center and BPO roles?
Yes. This is one of the primary audiences I work with. Filipino professionals in BPO settings often have strong English grammar and vocabulary. The clarity patterns that create barriers in client communication are typically related to rhythm, stress timing, specific vowel sounds, and final consonant clusters. These are addressable with structured clinical coaching. More information is on the call center and BPO service page.
About Scheduling
How do I schedule my sessions?
After enrollment and payment are complete, you will receive a personalized scheduling link. Sessions are via Zoom and can be booked around shifts, call schedules, flight rotations, and varying time zones.
How flexible is the scheduling?
Very. I work with professionals across multiple time zones, including international clients. If you are outside the US, we will find a time that works for both of us. Just mention your time zone when you reach out.
What if I need to cancel or reschedule?
Sessions cancelled with 24 hours or more notice can be rescheduled at no charge. Sessions cancelled with less than 24 hours notice are forfeited. Medical emergencies and family crises are handled case by case.
What happens if I do not complete my program within the scheduled window?
The 4-week intensive is designed to be completed within one month. The 12-week program is designed to be completed within four months. Extensions beyond those windows require approval and may involve additional fees.
Can I pause my program?
Contact me as soon as possible. Medical emergencies, family crises, and certain unexpected life events may qualify for a pause. Schedule conflicts generally do not.
What technology do I need?
A computer, tablet, or smartphone with a reliable internet connection, Zoom installed, and a microphone and camera. Built-in equipment is fine. A quiet space for sessions makes a meaningful difference.
About Payment
How much do the programs cost?
12-Week Comprehensive Program: $1,488, 4-Week Intensive: $558, Presentation Coaching: $225, per 75-minute session Graduate sessions: $155 for 50 minutes or $86 for 25 minutes.
Payment plans are available for both main programs. Full details on the Pricing page →
Can I pay per session instead of upfront?
No. Programs are paid before sessions are scheduled, either in full or via a payment plan. This ensures commitment on both sides and allows me to hold dedicated time for you.
Why can't I book a single session to try it?
One session is not enough time to address the speech patterns affecting daily communication. The 4-week intensive is the minimum for meaningful, measurable improvement. Many clients use it as a starting point before moving into the 12-week program.
What payment methods do you accept?
Stripe (credit card or bank transfer), Venmo, and PayPal.
Do you offer refunds?
Payment is non-refundable after your first coaching session. Before your first session, a refund is available minus a $50 administrative fee. If a genuine emergency arises after your first session, I will review the situation individually. Full details on the Pricing page →
Can I get reimbursed by my employer or insurance?
Some employers offer professional development funds that apply to this kind of coaching. I provide detailed invoices on request. Health insurance typically does not cover it, as this is professional development rather than medical treatment. Check with your HR department.
About Results
What kind of results do people typically see?
The most consistent outcomes are being asked to repeat themselves less often, clearer communication during high-pressure moments such as handoffs, briefings, client calls, and ATC exchanges, and stronger professional confidence. Individual results depend on starting point and consistency of practice.
Will this help me in job interviews or presentations?
Yes. The Presentation Coaching session is specifically designed for high-stakes speaking events including interviews, fellowship presentations, grand rounds, and check ride debriefs. To book, use the contact form and include your event date and a brief description of your presentation. I will follow up within 24 hours to confirm fit and send a payment link.
How is speech clarity different from fluency?
Fluency is about how smoothly and automatically language comes. Most of the professionals I work with are already fluent. Speech clarity is about whether the specific sounds, rhythm, and stress patterns in your speech allow a listener to process what you are saying without working harder than they should. You can be fully fluent and still have clarity patterns that create barriers in high-stakes professional settings. That distinction is the foundation of this work.
What speech patterns most commonly affect clarity for multilingual professionals?
The patterns that come up most often are stress, timing, and rhythm differences between English and the first language, reduced or altered vowel sounds, final consonant cluster reduction, and intonation patterns that do not carry the same meaning signals in English that they do in the first language. These patterns are not signs of weak English. They are the first language doing what it was built to do, automatically, even under pressure.
What are the main communication challenges for Indian doctors in US hospitals?
The challenges that come up most often are not about vocabulary or grammar. They are about the specific patterns that affect how speech reaches the listener in fast-moving clinical settings. Rate and pausing affect whether a patient can process information in real time. Intonation patterns from the first language can make speech harder for American listeners to follow even when every word is correct. Word stress differences affect whether key clinical information registers clearly. These patterns are consistent, identifiable, and can be changed through focused clinical work with a licensed speech-language pathologist.
About Claire
What are your qualifications?
I am a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist with 35 years of clinical experience, nationally certified by the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA) and licensed in New York State. I hold a specialist certification in accent modification and completed evidence-based accent modification training through The Accent Channel, created by Jessica Kijowski. Full background on the About page →
Why work with a Speech-Language Pathologist rather than an accent coach or ESL teacher?
Speech-Language Pathologists are licensed clinicians trained in the anatomy and physiology of speech production, not just the sounds of a language. That distinction matters when the goal is professional communication under pressure rather than general English fluency.
ESL instruction focuses on vocabulary, grammar, and foundational language skills. Accent coaches vary widely in training and methodology, and most are not licensed or clinically credentialed.
This coaching is based on clinical speech science and evidence-based accent training. The work addresses rhythm, timing, intonation, and the specific patterns that affect how you are understood in your professional setting. It is grounded in 35 years of clinical experience and a specialist certification in accent modification, not language teaching or general communication advice.
If you want to know whether this approach is the right fit for your specific situation, the Free Speech Clarity Consult is the place to start.
Is there a speech coach for multilingual doctors who works online?
Yes. I work one-on-one with multilingual physicians via Zoom, with scheduling built around clinical rotations and call schedules. Sessions are evidence-based, focused on the specific speech patterns that affect clarity during rounds, handoffs, and patient communication, and available to professionals worldwide.
Is there a speech coach for multilingual nurses who works online?
Yes. I work one-on-one with multilingual nurses via Zoom, with scheduling built around shift work and varying time zones. Coaching addresses the specific patterns that affect clarity during handoffs, bedside communication, and high-pressure clinical situations.
Is there a speech coach for pilots who works online?
Yes. I work one-on-one with multilingual pilots via Zoom, with scheduling built around flight rotations. Coaching is focused on the speech patterns that affect radio communication clarity with ATC and professional communication in aviation settings.
Do you offer speech clarity coaching for call center and BPO professionals?
Yes. I work with multilingual call center and BPO professionals, particularly those communicating with American and British clients. Coaching addresses the specific patterns that affect how clearly you are understood by clients, including rhythm and stress timing, vowel precision, and connected speech. More information is on the call center and BPO service page.
Do you work with people in my specialty?
I work with multilingual professionals across a range of roles and industries. During the consult I will let you know if I have direct experience with your specific context and whether this coaching is the right fit for where you are.
Do you offer in-person or group sessions?
All sessions are individual and conducted online via Zoom. This allows for flexible scheduling across time zones.
Can you help with IELTS or other English exams?
No. I focus on professional communication in high-stakes professional settings, not test preparation. I can refer you to appropriate resources if needed.
I am not in the US. Can you still work with me?
Yes. I work with professionals worldwide. If you are working in an American English context or planning to, this coaching applies directly. Just account for the time zone difference when booking.
What qualifications should an accent reduction coach have?
A qualified accent reduction coach should be a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist with specific training in accent modification. SLPs are clinically credentialed in the anatomy and physiology of speech production, not just the sounds of a language. Look for national certification through ASHA, state licensure, and specialist training in accent modification methodology. Accent coaches without clinical credentials vary widely in training and are not licensed or regulated. Claire Costello holds 35 years of clinical experience, ASHA certification, New York State licensure, and a specialist certification in accent modification through The Accent Channel.
How much does accent reduction coaching cost?
Programs range from $558 for the 4-Week Intensive to $1,488 for the 12-Week Comprehensive Program. Presentation Coaching is $225 per 75-minute session. Graduate support sessions are $155 for 50 minutes or $86 for 25 minutes. Payment plans are available for both main programs. A Free Speech Clarity Consult is available at no cost before any program commitment.
Is there a speech coach for Indian doctors working in US hospitals?
Yes. I work one-on-one with physicians who trained in India and are now practicing in the United States. The communication challenges that come up most consistently in US hospital settings are rate and pausing, intonation, and word stress patterns carried from the first language. These affect how quickly trust establishes with patients and how clearly information comes across clearly during rounds, handoffs, and patient interactions. Sessions are via Zoom, scheduled around clinical rotations, and available to physicians across the United States. A Free Speech Clarity Consult is available for physicians who want to understand what is specifically affecting their clarity.