According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), about one in five Americans experience some form of disturbance in their mental or emotional health. Whether it’s chronic stress from a hectic schedule or the persistent anxiety from an unresolved trauma, those feelings of inner turmoil can seem overwhelming—or even debilitating—at times.

  Fortunately, these hurdles are not insurmountable, and various modalities exist to help you reclaim a sense of peace, wellness, and balance. In this month’s Community Spotlight, I want to focus on one such modality in particular: Sound healing. In the Q&A below, I spoke with Elizabeth Stevens, Client Experience Consultant at The Om Shoppe in Sarasota, who was kind enough to share her depth of knowledge on this unique, holistic practice. 

Natural Awakenings: Can you explain what sound healing entails, and the impact it can have on both mental wellness and emotional balance? 

Elizabeth Stevens: Sound healing is a practice that uses elements of sound, like harmony or dissonance, to release and restore physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual states. When choosing a professional sound healer, look for one who has at least 200 hours of training and is certified by an organization such as the International Sound Therapy Association.

Sound healing can have a particularly restorative and therapeutic effect on the mind because it allows you to access the meditative state of theta brainwaves, which nurtures a feeling of clarity and calm. When you remain in this state for long periods of time and with repeated frequency, it becomes easier to cope with stressors and cultivate inner peace. Therapeutic sound waves also have the potential to rewire neurological patterns, so you can learn to halt negative feedback loops and create healthier, more beneficial thought patterns. 

NA: Are there different types of sound healing to be aware of, and which particular health benefits can each of these modalities offer? 

Stevens: Yes, there are several distinct forms of sound healing, each with their own unique techniques and benefits. I’ll run through some of the most common sound healing modalities, along with the positive effects they can have on your well-being.

Tuning Fork Therapy uses calibrated two-pronged acoustic forks to produce certain frequencies when struck together. These forks can be placed either on or near the body to relieve stress, promote relaxation, enhance mental clarity, alleviate chronic pain or muscle tension, and align the body’s chakras and natural energy fields.

Crystal Singing Bowls are made of quartz crystals and emit pure, resonant tones when rubbed or struck on the rim. These bowls help release stored emotions, facilitate deep relaxation, improve chakra balance, and enrich meditative states and spiritual growth.

 Tibetan Singing Bowls are made of metal and traditionally used in Tibetan rituals and practices. They also emit resonant tones when rubbed or struck on the rim. Tibetan Singing Bowls soothe the mind to alleviate stress and anxiety, while elevating concentration. The vibrations from these bowls could also contribute to physical healing or pain relief.

Gong Bath Meditation uses a metal gong instrument stuck with a large wooden mallet to deliver a complex range of frequencies and overtones. This can help ease emotional blocks or imbalances, cleanse the body of harmful energies, increase meditative awareness, and enhance sleep quality through deep relaxation and mental calm.

Drumming channels the rhythmic cadence of a drumbeat to promote well-being, either in a solo or group environment. This creates an outlet for emotional release and free expression in order to boost energy levels, reduce stress or anxiety, and revitalize the body as a whole. When done as a group, it can also foster a sense of connection and community.

Vocal Toning uses repeated chants or other vocal sounds to create soothing vibrations. As with other forms of sound therapy, it facilitates relaxation, mental focus, and emotional stability to resolve inner blockages. The vibrations could also have a role in physical healing.

Sound Baths take place in a communal environment, during which everyone listens to an instrumental composition led by a well-trained practitioner. Sound Baths can help regulate mood states, enhance sleep quality, alleviate stress, and boost cognitive function.    

Each of these modalities offers unique benefits, so you might find that certain sound healing treatments resonate with your specific needs. Experiment with various methods to see which best serves your own personal wellness journey. 

NA: What would you tell someone who is experiencing mental or emotional distress, but might be skeptical of sound healing treatments? 

Stevens: Sound healing can be instrumental in resolving issues around anxiety, stress, depression, or chronic fatigue. It can also bolster cognition and memory function, while promoting mental, emotional, and spiritual health overall. But the notion that sound waves transmit healing qualities can be a hard concept for some to grasp. 

It’s not uncommon to feel skeptical or hesitant toward this practice, but I would just encourage you to think about your favorite song. Does the experience of listening to it have a therapeutic effect on you? Science shows that hearing our favorite songs can provide certain health benefits such as less anxiety and a more resilient immune system.

When it comes to sound healing, the benefits are similar. The vibrations that emanate from different instruments or vocal tones in a sound healing session interact with the body’s cells through harmony, dissonance, resonance, direct frequencies, or other sound wave elements. This interaction produces inner calm, relaxation, and balance.

 NA: Finally, can you list out the various sound healing treatments, workshops, or other services currently offered at The Om Shoppe? 

Stevens: At The Om Shoppe, we offer Sonic Meridian Clearing, Integral Sound Therapy, Sound Wave Attunement, Private Sound Baths, Group Sound Baths or Sound Journeys, Sound Wave Attunement with Crystal Body Gridding, and Customized Crystal Gridding with Aromatic Mists. All of our massages also include 6–8 minutes of crystal bowl sound healing. I invite you to contact us or visit our website to learn more about these restorative treatments. 

The Om Shoppe is located at 4801 S Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. The hours of operation are Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, call 941-706-3257 or visit https://www.theomshoppeandspa.com/