Brooklyn Letters IconBrooklyn Letters

1139 Prospect Avenue, Brooklyn

4.9 56 reviews

  • Avatar Emily Matles ★★★★★ a week ago
    We would highly recommend Ally! Our son always asks about her, so very thankful to Brooklyn Letters for introducing us.
    ~ Emily, mom of Brooklyn 2 year old
  • Avatar T Ainsley ★★★★★ 5 months ago
    I cannot express how grateful and rewarding my experience with Brooklyn Letters has been. Her tutor Ms. Daria is so knowledgeable, amazing, kind and awesome. My daughter has made so much progress in Literacy and Math and it's all … More thanks to Ms. Daria. I know my daughter is sad that she can no longer work with Ms. Daria, as she looked forward to their sessions every week. Thank you again!
  • Avatar Natalie Levon ★★★★★ 4 months ago
    Nicole has been an amazing therapist!! She played a tremendous role in our daughter’s speech progress and overall development. She has come such a long way and we are so happy with the therapy she received!
  • Avatar Colin Peters ★★★★★ 6 months ago
    We could not be happier with the services Valerie provided! She is very thoughtful and knowledgeable and provided significant guidance to support our daughter's speech development outside of our scheduled sessions. She established … More a great working relationship with her, and she will definitely be missed! Your business model is amazing and it was an absolute pleasure working with Valerie. I've referred your organization and Valerie to the Executive Director of our daughter's school and friends/colleagues who are in need of speech therapy services.
  • Avatar Lil Amatore ★★★★★ 7 months ago
    Christina was absolutely wonderful. She went out of her way to win my son over and it worked. He looked forward to her visits and his speech improved so much under her care. She was super flexible and it’s clear she truly cares. We adore … More Christina and we’re going to miss her. Almost sad he improved so much! She’s simply amazing and we can’t say enough how great she is. I would recommend her services to anyone and everyone, without hesitation. Thank you so much for connecting us with her!
  • Avatar Heather Liljengren ★★★★★ a year ago
    We cannot say enough good things about Effie, the ASL teacher, who was so engaged and effective with our 2 year old daughter from the very first session! Effie gladly included our whole family in the sessions! Her expertise and fantastic … More personality gave our daughter a way to communicate that she was so desperately seeking. The coordinators at Brooklyn Letters were so helpful and communicative…I would highly recommend their services!
  • Avatar Brigid Bower ★★★★★ 11 months ago
    Samantha Dalmas was fantastic! We saw her for a feeding therapy evaluation and while she doesn’t think my daughter needs more feeding therapy sessions at this time, but she gave me lots of tips to try. If my daughter's doctors want … More to see more progress at her next appointment, I wouldn’t hesitate to reach out to Samantha again.
  • Avatar Duygu Başaran ★★★★★ 11 months ago
    Brooklyn Letters was recommended to me through a friend's speech therapist friend in NJ. The articulation evaluation for my daughter went well. We were pleased with Kristin's services.
  • Avatar Kelley Peters-Patel ★★★★★ a year ago
    Melissa was wonderful. Our daughter warmed to her immediately and by the time she left, had already started "practicing" some of the techniques Melissa had shown her. I will not hesitate at all to reach out to Melissa again, should … More the need arise.
  • Avatar R Elmore ★★★★★ a year ago
    Aileen was INCREDIBLY helpful to us, both in assessing possible origins of my grandson's food aversions, as well as informing us of various available interventions to consider.
    I can’t thank you and Brooklyn Letters enough for connecting
    … More us with Aileen. In all our feeding therapy journey we have not gotten anything near the kind of benefit that we did from her. Her knowledge, professionalism, and responsiveness have put us on the path of progress with my grandson and has also made us feel genuinely well cared for.
  • Avatar Christine Weiher ★★★★★ 2 years ago
    We were amazed with Allison! She met my son at 2 1/2 years old, not speaking much at all, and over a computer, and she was able to develop a bond and friendship, so much so that he would look forward to his weekly computer time with Allison. … More I was not sure how the speech therapy would go- but we are so happy that we tried it out and continued. It allowed my son to gain confidence in his speech, make a new friend :), and also give him the skills and a bit of understanding of how to shape his mouth or where to place his tongue to make the proper sounds. We were extremely happy with Allison- she was fantastic to work with.
  • Avatar Andrea Saffady ★★★★★ 2 years ago
    My sessions with Karen have been extremely helpful. My speech has improved tremendously. In fact, I just finished 2 hours of conducting interviews with a consulting client via MS Teams and I have an upcoming conference call. Both my … More neurologist and neurosurgeon remarked about how good my speech is. Much of the day it is perfect, although I still have some rough spots when I get tired or speak too quickly. One of my granddaughters is a speech pathology student at Ithaca College. She sat in on 2 sessions while she was home for winter break, and she was very impressed with Karen.
  • Avatar Jacob B ★★★★★ 4 years ago
    We were delighted with Christie. First, and most importantly, our son made great strides under her guidance. So great, that we felt he no longer needed help! She was incredibly patient and kind with him and our son really responded to … More her. Christie was also great with me and my wife. She provided thorough and informative updates on our son's progress and which exercises she was using with him, so we could reinforce what she was teaching him. All in all, we had a fabulous experience with Christie and would highly recommend her.
  • Avatar Jessica C ★★★★★ a year ago
    Theo was wonderful and his work with my son has produced some progress. I am grateful for the services Theo provided.
  • Avatar Melissa Stevens ★★★★★ 2 years ago
    Highly recommend Jill. She is a total pleasure to work with. After a few months working with Jill, my son is reading above grade level and LOVES to read. Mission accomplished!
  • Avatar Demet Evren ★★★★★ 2 years ago
    Paige was great and we had been really happy with her. I would highly recommend her! I recommend Brooklyn Letters to whomever asks for a speech therapist.
  • Avatar Jeizel Rosenthal ★★★★★ 2 years ago
    Isabel was WONDERFUL and our son absolutely adored her, and he is making great progress with his reading and writing.
  • Avatar Lesley Duval ★★★★★ 3 years ago
    Theo was fantastic with our 4yo son. We were very worried that his progress would fall off when we had to switch to remote sessions, but Theo kept our son happy and engaged through the screen. Highly highly recommend!
  • Avatar Samantha Packard ★★★★★ 3 years ago
    We've been working with Theo from Brooklyn Letters for close to 4 months now and the results are apparent; our daughter has vastly improved her speech in a relatively short amount of time. We make "Theo Day" a celebration … More in our house with pancakes for breakfast, and the enthusiasm is matched in the sessions. Theo is fun, patient, professional, and caring, and he gives us the tools to take the lessons beyond the session. Thank you Theo, and Brooklyn Letters, for helping our daughter express herself.
  • Avatar Travis Ricca ★★★★★ 3 years ago
    I worked with Alina to enhance my pronunciation, tone, and pacing while communicating socially and in a work environment. She was great to work with and clear about goals and learning objectives. The improvement from day 1 has been tremendous! … More
  • Avatar Enrico Bermudez ★★★★★ 3 years ago
    Cathy has been excellent with us and our son. We will sorely miss her. He has improved significantly with Cathy’s help. Cathy was a true partner with us, especially as we pursued additional help through our son’s school system.
  • Avatar Kayne Elisabeth Wilk ★★★★★ 4 years ago
    We really loved working with Alina, she is so fantastic. Patient yet firm, and determined the best course of action very clearly and succintly for us. And it all transitioned so well to Zoom as well. I will definitely be back in touch for … More services for our other child after summer break!
  • Avatar Jen S ★★★★★ 4 years ago
    Vera was amazing! My 11 yo daughter made progress so quickly and really looked forward to her sessions. She was kept motivated and engaged.
  • Avatar susie tofte ★★★★★ 3 years ago
    The work that Allison P. did with our daughter over the years has been invaluable to us. Our daughter had such a good relationship with Allison, and it allowed them to work really well together - even remotely these past 6 months. This … More year, Allison went above and beyond by helping us throughout the neuropsych eval we did, trying to re-open our daughter's IEP at her school, and eventually landing her at our chosen school. She was in contact with our daughter's teachers, with the neuropsychologist, and made herself available as a reference to speak on behalf of our daughter's learning differences.
    Allison stopped by our house last week to give our daughter cupcakes and say goodbye, and I literally cried with appreciation for what an amazing speech therapist she has been. She has been our daughter's biggest champion. The new families that she will work with this year are lucky to have her.
  • Avatar Alicia Perez-Katz ★★★★★ 4 years ago
    Sydney was great! Our son was sad to end his sessions with her, which says a lot. We appreciated her honest assessment of his skill level, and he now has materials to self monitor and practice. Thank you!
  • Avatar Kristin Ames ★★★★★ 4 years ago
    Our experience with Theo was terrific. Theo was great with my son. He developed a positive relationship with him based on sincerity, respect, trust and a deep personal connection. In their lessons, Theo was encouraging, creative and kind. … More He helped our son understand how to differentiate the sounds he made when he spoke, and gave him great exercises to practice every week between lessons. Our son was sorry to have the lessons come to an end, but recognized that Theo had helped him as much as possible and it was time for him to stop. Theo explained to him (and us) how to keep working to get the last 5%, and encouraged him to keep working on the exercises on his own. I have recommended Theo to another parent who noticed my son's improvement and inquired for her own son.
    We are all grateful to have gotten to know Theo, and we greatly appreciate all the work he did to help our son.
  • Avatar Aisha Holder ★★★★★ 4 years ago
    "I have nothing but wonderful things to say about Michelle Macroy-Higgins. We are extremely pleased with her work with our daughter. I was so grateful for my daughter to have a speech therapist who is a researcher (specialty in late … More talkers), graduate professor and practitioner. Her expertise was clearly evident in our conversations and work with our daughter. She was very responsive to my questions and often sent articles and other materials about language development that I found helpful. Thankfully, my daughter's speech improved tremendously. Michelle developed such a warm relationship with my daughter. My daughter was always excited to see Michelle and would greet her at the door with a big hug. Lastly, I would add that Michelle always demonstrated empathy with me as a mother who was initially worried about her daughter's language development. I could go on and on about how pleased we were with Michelle's work."
  • Avatar Andrea Peartree ★★★★★ 4 years ago
    Theo is a wonderful Clinton Hill speech therapist. We were really pleased with him. Our son showed drastic improvement, not only in his speech but in his confidence.
  • Avatar mario costa ★★★★★ 4 years ago
    Alexa has been an enthusiastic, reliable, well prepared and caring teacher for our 6 year old daughter. She has been able to improve and increase our daughter's confidence lesson by lesson with patience and competence; through varied … More and productive didactic practice. Alexa has engaged our daughter in several activities that always kept her motivated and eager to learn literacy. My wife and I, both of us are educators, feel so fortunate to have had the opportunity to observe Alexa's pedagogical skills. Alexa has had a big impact on our daughter literacy growth. Thank you Brooklyn Letters!
  • Avatar Lily Alt ★★★★★ 4 years ago
    We were absolutely DELIGHTED with Marsha's services. She was wonderful. We found her to be kind, fun, engaging, very knowledgeable. She provided us with clear instructions and additional written handouts each week. She engaged our … More son with different techniques and toys, and showed us how to use her techniques when we were interacting with him. I actually just texted her on Saturday - Our son finally said "more" - one of the target words we had been working on with her. It was a total joy to hear, and I had to share it with her - she wrote back immediately to congratulate us. I am so appreciative of her expertise, and wish we could have seen her for longer. I recommended her to another family in our neighborhood who is looking for a speech therapist.

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In-Home Public Speaking Coaching for Adults in Manhattan

public speaking for adults

PUBLIC SPEAKING COACHING FOR ADULTS IN MANHATTAN, NYC

public speaking for adults
WE TRAVEL TO YOU THROUGHOUT MANHATTAN:
Battery Park City, Bowery, Carnegie Hill, Central Harlem, Central Midtown, Chelsea, Chinatown, Civic Center, Clinton, Columbus Circle, Cooperative Village, Diamond District, East Harlem, East Village, Financial District, Flatiron District, Garment District, Governors Island, Gramercy Park, Greenwich Village, Hamilton Heights, Harlem, Hell’s Kitchen, Hudson Square, Hudson Yards, Inwood, Kips Bay, Lenox Hill, Lincoln Square, Little Italy, Lower East Side, Manhattan Valley, Marble Hill, Meatpacking District, Midtown, Midtown East, Midtown South, Morningside Heights, Murray Hill, NoHo, NoLita, Peter Cooper Village, Roosevelt Island, Seaport District, SoHo, South Street Seaport, Stuyvesant Town, Sutton Place, Theatre District, Times Square, TriBeCa, Turtle Bay, Union Square, Upper East Side, Upper West Side, Washington Heights, Waterside Plaza, West Harlem, West Village, Yorkville.
We Also Travel To:
The Bronx, Riverdale, and Yonkers

Service Snapshot

  • Service: Public speaking coaching for adults
  • Location: Manhattan
  • Delivery: In-home and remote options
  • Client Types: Professionals, executives, graduate students, entrepreneurs, creatives
  • Focus Areas: Presentation skills, executive communication, vocal delivery, confidence, audience engagement
  • Session Structure: Customized 1:1 coaching sessions
  • Goal: Improve communication performance in real-world speaking environments

Best 1:1 Manhattan Public Speaking Coaches for Adults | Free Consultations and Meet & Greets with our coaches.

1:1 Manhattan Public Speaking Coaches | Free Consultations and Meet & Greets with our coaches.

We provide in-home public speaking coaching across Manhattan, with remote options available when appropriate. Manhattan professionals often seek communication coaching to improve presentation performance, leadership communication, interview delivery, and workplace confidence in demanding professional environments.

Many Manhattan professionals seek public speaking coaching to improve communication performance in high-pressure academic, workplace, and leadership environments.

Public speaking coaching supports adults who want stronger presentation skills, more confident communication, clearer delivery, and improved audience engagement. Manhattan Letters provides structured, in-home public speaking coaching throughout Manhattan for professionals, executives, creatives, graduate students, entrepreneurs, and adults preparing for important speaking situations.

Our work focuses on practical communication performance rather than therapy-driven intervention. Sessions may address vocal delivery, pacing, presentation organization, conversational confidence, audience connection, articulation clarity, interview preparation, or executive communication skills.

Many Manhattan families and professionals begin communication support early rather than waiting for speaking difficulties to interfere with academic or professional performance. Proactive communication coaching often helps maintain strong performance consistency over time.

As Featured In:

What Public Speaking Coaching Helps With

Public speaking coaching improves communication performance across workplace, leadership, academic, and social speaking situations.

Adults seek coaching for many different reasons. Some professionals want stronger executive presence during meetings and presentations. Others are preparing for interviews, networking events, media appearances, graduate school presentations, investor pitches, or keynote speaking opportunities.

Coaching may support:

  • Presentation organization and structure
  • Executive communication skills
  • Speech clarity and articulation
  • Audience engagement
  • Interview preparation
  • Confidence during meetings and presentations
  • Speaking pacing and vocal delivery
  • Reduction of filler-word dependence
  • Professional networking communication
  • Public speaking anxiety management strategies

Many Manhattan professionals work in environments where communication quality directly affects leadership visibility, academic advancement, or career opportunities.

When Adults Typically Seek Public Speaking Coaching

Adults often begin public speaking coaching before major professional, academic, or leadership transitions.

Many adults begin coaching when communication demands increase. This may happen before promotions, interviews, graduate school presentations, conferences, leadership transitions, fundraising events, or high-visibility speaking opportunities.

Some adults seek support after noticing increasing nervousness, difficulty organizing presentations, reduced speaking confidence, or challenges communicating clearly under pressure.

Other professionals pursue coaching proactively to strengthen leadership communication and maintain performance consistency in demanding Manhattan professional environments.

Advanced learners and high-performing professionals may also seek enrichment-focused coaching designed to refine presentation sophistication, executive presence, and persuasive communication skills.

How In-Home Public Speaking Coaching Works

In-home public speaking coaching allows communication practice to occur in comfortable, familiar environments with individualized instruction.

We provide in-home public speaking coaching across Manhattan neighborhoods including the Upper East Side, Upper West Side, Tribeca, Chelsea, and Midtown.

Sessions are individualized around the client’s communication goals and real-world speaking situations. Coaching may include live speaking exercises, presentation rehearsal, vocal delivery work, conversational practice, structured feedback, audience simulation, and communication strategy development.

Working directly with clients in Manhattan homes often allows for more consistent scheduling, reduced commuting stress, and stronger long-term implementation.

Remote coaching options are also available when appropriate.

In-Home Coaching vs Communication Courses

Private public speaking coaching provides individualized feedback and implementation support that large communication courses often cannot provide.

Many communication courses focus on generalized presentation concepts delivered in group settings. Private coaching allows sessions to adapt directly to the client’s professional responsibilities, communication habits, pacing challenges, and speaking goals.

In-home coaching also provides flexibility for busy Manhattan professionals managing demanding schedules and high-performance environments.

Some adults prefer individualized coaching because it creates opportunities for repeated rehearsal, direct correction, personalized speaking feedback, and targeted communication refinement.

Why Choose Manhattan Letters?

1. Customized 1:1 Coaching

Every speaker is different, so we tailor each session to your individual needs and goals. Whether you’re preparing for a big presentation, refining your delivery, or working on accent clarity, we focus on what matters most to you. Our coaching is practical, targeted, and built around real-life scenarios. You’ll leave each session with specific, usable strategies.

2. Flexible Location Options

We make it easy to fit coaching into your life. Choose between in-person sessions at home (across Manhattan) or virtual coaching from anywhere. Both options offer the same personalized experience and expert support. Convenience shouldn’t come at the cost of quality—and with us, it doesn’t.

3. Expert Coaches, Real Results

The coaches we work with are certified speech-language pathologists with deep expertise in voice, speech, and communication—but this isn’t therapy. It’s high-level coaching for confident, polished speaking. We blend technical skill with practical tools that help you speak clearly, sound confident, and command attention. It’s about helping you show up at your best.

4. Comprehensive Skill Development

We coach the full range of communication—not just what you say, but how you say it. From posture and eye contact to tone and timing, we fine-tune all the elements that shape how you’re perceived. Storytelling, vocal delivery, audience connection—it’s all part of the work we do. Great speakers don’t just talk; they connect, and we help you get there.

5. Free Initial Consultation

You’ll start with a no-pressure consultation to talk through your goals and ask questions. It’s a chance to meet your coach, understand the process, and see if we’re the right fit. There’s no obligation—just a helpful conversation to get clarity and next steps. We make it easy to begin.

6. AI-Powered Support Tools

Between sessions, our optional AI tools help you keep building skills. Get real-time feedback on your speech pacing, filler words, tone, and delivery. Practice presentations, interviews, or tough conversations with simulated scenarios. These tools are affordable, flexible, and designed to accelerate your progress—but never required.

Key Facts About Public Speaking Coaching in Manhattan

  • Many Manhattan professionals seek communication coaching before leadership transitions or major presentations.
  • In-home coaching allows flexible scheduling for busy professionals.
  • Private coaching provides individualized speaking feedback and rehearsal support.
  • Communication coaching may support executive presence, presentation delivery, and audience engagement.
  • Many adults pursue coaching proactively rather than waiting for communication challenges to escalate.

Who We Help

  • Professionals preparing for leadership roles, presentations, or interviews
  • Entrepreneurs refining their pitch
  • Individuals managing speaking anxiety or stage fright
  • Anyone seeking to become a more engaging communicator

Tuition Reimbursement Tip

Many companies are willing to fund employees’ professional development, including public speaking coaching, because enhanced skills lead to greater productivity and reduced turnover. To determine if your employer offers such support, inquire with your manager or HR department about programs like “professional development stipends” or “continuous education incentives.” If no formal program exists, you can still advocate for coverage by demonstrating how the coaching will benefit your role and the company.

Where Do We Begin: At-Home and Remote Evaluations

Our process starts with a personalized consultation to understand your goals. We’ll assess your current speaking style—no tests, just a practical conversation—and create a tailored plan.

You’ll work 1:1 with a coach who helps you build confidence, refine your message, and present with presence. Whether you want to sound more polished, connect with an audience, or simply stop dreading public speaking, we’ll meet you where you are.

Training/Certifications
Training/Certifications
TESTIMONIALS

My sessions with Karen have been extremely helpful.
My speech has improved tremendously. In fact, I just finished 2 hours of conducting interviews with a consulting client via MS Teams and I have an upcoming conference call. Both my neurologist and neurosurgeon remarked about how good my speech is. Much of the day it is perfect, although I still have some rough spots when I get tired or speak too quickly. One of my granddaughters is a speech pathology student at Ithaca College. She sat in on 2 sessions while she was home for winter break, and she was very impressed with Karen.

- William S.
Meet the CEO
Presented at:

What is Public Speaking?

public speaking for adults

Consider an occasion when you were requested to speak in front of a big group. This can be anything from giving a presentation at work, moderating a work meeting or conference, or delivering a speech at a family gathering. Is that encounter bringing up any unpleasant emotions? Many individuals connect public speaking with a terrible experience that we would want to avoid at all costs. However, public speaking is sometimes inevitable. You don’t have to be nervous whether you’re a kid making a class presentation or an adult speaking at your best friend’s wedding.

What Makes Public Speaking Challenging?

Some of the most common reasons that make public speaking a challenge for many individuals include:

  • Little experience with public speaking.
  • Viewing public speaking as a show rather than as a means of connecting with an audience
  • Speech preparation and development are limited
  • The anxiety of the speaker
  • Inexperience with using technology relating to the speech (video clips, Powerpoint presentations, music, etc)

What Does "Connection" Imply?

Making a connection with your audience is the most important aspect of public speaking. Sure, you have something to say, and it’s no doubt interesting. However, if you focus on your material rather than the audience with whom you are sharing it, you will miss out on the connection.

Connecting with your audience does not imply feigning empathy or being unduly vulnerable. It’s about demonstrating that you’re not simply talking for the sake of talking, but that you’re engaging in a human discussion with other individuals.

Free Intake Process

public speaking for adults

1. Initial Contact and Consultation. Contact us via email, text, or phone—we respond quickly, seven days a week. We’ll schedule a phone call within one business day to understand your goals and explain the next steps.

2. Background Review. If you’ve worked with a coach or attended any training before, feel free to share what helped or didn’t. This gives us insight into your communication preferences and helps us tailor your experience.

3. Goal Setting and Planning. Instead of formal assessments, we focus on real conversations about your current challenges and where you’d like to grow. Whether it’s speaking up in meetings or commanding the room during presentations, we use your goals to shape a personalized coaching plan.

4. Finding the Right Match. We’ll match you with a coach whose expertise and style align with your needs. You’ll have access to their profile and can schedule a free virtual meet-and-greet before your first session.

5. Expertise . Our coaches are certified speech-language pathologists who specialize in public speaking coaching for adults. We’re not here to diagnose—we’re here to help you speak with confidence, clarity, and presence.

We ensure that all reports and communications are securely stored using a HIPAA-encrypted email system, maintaining confidentiality. We do not release any confidential information without your written consent, providing peace of mind regarding the security and privacy of your information.

How Do You Connect with Your Audience?

Connecting with your audience can be as simple as by tweaking and adjusting your language to personalize them and make yourself and your message more relatable to your audience. Here are other essential strategies:

1. Greet your audience. It may seem strange to have to say this, but what’s even stranger is how many individuals fail to do so. When you rush into a presentation, whether on stage or through video conference, without pausing to address your audience, you are not treating them as individuals. Begin with a “Hi!” or “Hey, how are you?” Thank them for attending or for inviting you to speak in front of them. Recognize the event and the cause for your presence. Discuss what you’re going to talk about and why you believe it’s essential to them.

2. Plan your conversation around their interests, not yours. Assume you’re a business owner presenting a new product to a group of investors. Do you think you should start by establishing your credentials? By recounting the lengthy, arduous path that leads to your idea? No. The investors are there to earn money, so go right to the point and talk about the urgent problem you’re solving and the massive market that awaits you. Tell them where they fit in and why you want to work with them specifically rather than anybody else. It’s essentially the same pitch you’d deliver to another group, except this time it’s geared to the individuals in the room.

3. Tell tales that are meaningful to your audience. Using real-life examples may help to make your speech more memorable, captivating, and engaging. But be picky about which stories you tell. If you’re touring the world to raise money to treat kids’ diseases, don’t keep recounting the same heartbreaking tale of a family friend’s daughter who died too early. Choose stories that are as near to home as possible. Find stories of local children to help you explain your topic more sympathetically.

4. Avoid doing anything that draws attention to your differences from the audience. People can lose interest in your words, thoughts, and information in a matter of seconds. Convert your data to centimeters and liters if your audience utilizes the metric system so they don’t have to do it themselves. Avoid using scientific words when speaking to a fourth-grade class. If you’re presenting information to a Brazilian audience, mention research they can trust, preferably one that’s in Brazil and easy to look up. When presenting data, making sure you have a reliable and reputable source is always necessary. But your message will gain more impact when you present information in a localized language and context that your audience can easily understand.

5. Don’t merely consider the information. People still bother with meetings and presentations in an age where most information is instantaneously available online for one reason: they require social context—someone they trust—before they can absorb knowledge. Your Zoom quarterly sales report updates are more than simply you reeling off data figures. People notice your appearance, bearing, manner, and how well you deliver information. So talk, dress appropriately, keep your hands visible, relax your shoulders, straighten your back, smile (particularly if you see someone you know), and create eye contact.

6. Tell stories, use humor, and use effective language. Incorporate a humorous tale into your presentation, and you will undoubtedly capture the interest of your audience. A personal touch in a speech is often appreciated by audiences. That is something that a narrative can deliver. Even Aristotle, a renowned public speaker, felt that listeners are more interested in who we are and how we convey information than in the subject itself.

7. Remember to pause. Pauses may be a very effective strategy in public speaking since they help both the speaker and the listener. Research shows that the average professional speaks at a rate of 150 words per minute. By utilizing pauses, you allow yourself some time to quickly gather your thoughts and observe your audience. It also gives the room time to process the message you just delivered and ponder on the implications of your information. Properly timed pauses also raise the impact of your message.

8. Use inflection to stress important points and captivate your audience. Inflection, also known as voice modulation, is defined as a “shift in the pitch or tone of the voice.” It is classified into four types: upward, downward, level, and circumflex. Varying your tone during the speech—gently raising your voice to signal an inquiry, slightly dropping it to complete a declarative phrase, speaking louder to suggest joy or quieter to express grief—can help you in keeping your audience awake and maintaining their attention.

9. Amplify your message using gestures and movements. During presentations, people pay attention to motions and gestures. If you use your body to emphasize a point, such as applauding or pointing, the audience is far more likely to remember what you say. This public speaking approach is used by powerful presenters throughout their speeches and it certainly works.

10. Use eye contact. A careful glance in the eyes of an audience member might convey how much you value their opinions. When you make eye contact with your audience, it creates a more personal atmosphere. It makes your listeners feel as though they are having a conversation with you as opposed to just listening to a discussion or a presentation. It forges a link between the speaker and the listener, a bond that benefits both sides. When you look someone in the eyes, they are more inclined to look at you, listen to you, and believe in your message.

11. Have a well-organized and structured speech. The audience can tell when a speaker has given enough time and effort to prepare a speech or if they are simply “winging it.” Having a well-organized speech means you are less likely to go around in circles or deliver an ambiguous message. When you are clear and concise, it will be easier for your audience to digest the information, ask relevant questions, and reach the conclusion you wish for them to make. In turn, you’ll be able to answer their questions and clarify your points more effectively. Begin with the body while planning a speech. Based on your study and accompanying resources, determine the major topics of a speech. The major points should support the thesis statement and aid in the achievement of the general and particular goals. Topical, chronological, geographical, problem-solution, cause-effect, and Monroe’s Motivated Sequence are several organizing patterns that can assist in organizing the major ideas of a speech.

speech-language pathologist is an expert in the field of communication. The licensed speech-language pathologists we work with at Manhattan Letters have the highest level of training to help you achieve your public speaking goals. Let us identify the best techniques to help you overcome your concerns and become a confident speaker.

Getting Started with Manhattan Letters

All new clients receive a free consultation, allowing you to discuss your public speaking goals and assess your needs. Our remote meet-and-greets make it easy to connect with your coach, ask questions, and gain insight into how our services can support you. This initial conversation helps establish a comfortable, supportive foundation, setting the stage for a rewarding and transformative experience in public speaking.

Unlock your potential as a public speaker with Manhattan Letters. Improve your leadership communication, refine your interview skills, and elevate your executive presence with our specialized 1:1 coaching. Become a confident speaker who can articulate ideas clearly, engage any audience, and leave a lasting impression.

While many clients come to us for public speaking coaching, our expertise extends beyond that. The certified speech-language pathologists we work with also provide support in areas such as speech coaching, elocution, accent reduction coaching, articulation, stuttering, voice therapy, and language therapy. Whether you’re seeking to polish your professional presence or address a specific communication challenge, we have the experience to help.

Ready to get started? Contact us today for your free consultation!

Frequently Asked Questions

Who benefits from public speaking coaching?

Public speaking coaching supports professionals, executives, graduate students, entrepreneurs, and adults preparing for high-visibility communication situations.

Many adults seek coaching for workplace presentations, interviews, leadership communication, networking, conferences, and public-facing professional roles.

Do sessions take place in person?

Manhattan Letters provides in-home public speaking coaching throughout Manhattan with remote options available when appropriate.

Many professionals prefer in-home sessions because they simplify scheduling and reduce commuting demands.

Is this speech therapy?

Public speaking coaching focuses on communication performance rather than clinical speech-language intervention.

Although many coaches have speech-language expertise, sessions are designed around professional communication goals and presentation development.

What areas of Manhattan do you serve?

We provide in-home coaching throughout Manhattan neighborhoods including the Upper East Side, Upper West Side, Tribeca, Chelsea, and Midtown.

Additional neighborhoods may also be available depending on scheduling and coach availability.

When should someone begin communication coaching?

Many adults begin communication coaching before major professional or academic speaking demands increase.

Early, proactive coaching often helps professionals maintain strong communication performance and presentation confidence over time.

MEET SOME OF OUR PUBLIC SPEAKING COACHES

Judith W.
M.A., CCC-SLP, TSSLD, VASTA (Voice and Speech Trainers Association) and Certified Singing Teacher
JUDITH

Judith has been a speech-language pathologist since 1993, specializing in speech coaching for professionals and individuals seeking to enhance their communication skills. Her expertise spans accent reduction, voice training, elocution, public speaking, and business communication, empowering clients to present themselves with confidence and clarity.

Since 2015, Judith has helped professionals become dynamic, confident communicators through her holistic approach to corporate communication. She has coached executives and emerging leaders at top organizations including IBM, Bloomberg, Citi, and NASDAQ. Judith’s coaching approach focuses on developing powerful voices, enhancing speech clarity, and adapting seamlessly across communication contexts. She specializes in improving public speaking, meeting skills, and workplace communication, teaching practical strategies that elevate presence and authenticity. She understands that how you speak often carries more weight than the words themselves.

Judith’s extensive experience also includes working with adults in clinics, rehab centers, and private settings, as well as coaching professionals to improve workplace communication.

Her innovative “Sounds in Motion” program, implemented in schools, used a multi-sensory approach to boost speech development and fluency. Judith’s approach to coaching is enriched by her background in singing, movement, acting, improv, and public speaking. She believes that integrating these elements makes learning enjoyable and results in deeper, more lasting improvements in communication skills.

Judith is a member of VASTA (Voice and Speech Trainers Association), CORSPAN (Corporate Speech Pathology Network), and ASHA (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association).

Location: Manhattan, and Remote

Types of Services:

  • Individual and group speech coaching for adults (accent reduction, vocal development, public speaking, business communication)
  • Communication assessments

Expertise: Accent modification, stuttering, public speaking, voice training, business communication skills, and confidence-building for individuals with Asperger’s and autism

Gehan A.
MS, CCC-SLP, TSSLD
Gehan A.

Gehan is a dedicated Speech language pathologist with a Master’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Adelphi University. She specializes in voice therapy for adults, helping clients enhance their vocal presence for public speaking, performance, and everyday communication.

With a strong commitment to inclusivity and affirming care, Gehan offers specialized transgender voice therapy, providing both individual and group sessions tailored to male-to-female and female-to-male voice habilitation. Gehan’s work empowers clients to align their voice with their gender identity in a healthy, authentic, and sustainable way.

In addition, Gehan supports public speakers through vocal habilitation—focusing on vocal health and expressive voice use. Her clinical expertise also includes fluency intervention, articulation therapy, and accent modification, helping clients build clarity and confidence in all areas of communication.

Whether working with professionals, performers, or individuals on a personal journey, Gehan brings compassion, clinical skill, and a deep passion for helping others find and express their true voice.

Location: Remote

Expertise: Voice therapy for adults, public speaking support and vocal presence for performance and communication, transgender voice therapy (MTF and FTM voice habilitation – individual and group sessions), vocal habilitation including vocal health and expressive voice use, fluency intervention, articulation therapy, and accent modification.

Karen M.
M.S., CCC-SLP, TSSLD
Karen

Karen holds a master’s degree from the University of California at Long Beach and a Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP) from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). Before relocating to New York City, she owned and operated a private practice in Silicon Valley, California.

Karen specializes in public speaking coaching, helping clients enhance their confidence, voice quality, intonation, and vocal strength. She provides expert guidance to professional speakers, corporate executives, and audiobook narrators, assisting them in refining their pronunciation, presentation style, and audience engagement.

Her coaching is tailored for individuals transitioning from small corporate meeting rooms to large indoor and outdoor venues, ensuring they develop the skills needed for effective and dynamic presentations. She also trains clients in stress management techniques, helping them overcome public speaking anxiety while fostering stronger audience connections.

Karen’s approach is designed to empower speakers with the skills and confidence necessary to deliver impactful, engaging, and memorable presentations.

Location: Remote
Experience: Adult Articulation Disorders, Adult CVA , Adult language disorders, executive functioning difficulties, voice disorders , chronic cough, Parkinson’s and social/pragmatic difficulties.

FREE CONSULTATION!!!
Call: (917) 426-8880,
Text: (917) 426-8880
Email: [email protected]
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