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Sound Therapy Meets Psychology: Yes, It’s a Thing (And It’s Pretty Amazing)


Let’s be real for a second — when most people hear “sound therapy,” they picture a bunch of crystals, a few gongs, maybe someone humming on a mountain. (No shame if that’s your vibe, by the way.)


But here’s what most people don’t know: Sound therapy is being used in psychology and clinical spaces all over the world — and it’s backed by science.


It’s not just “woo.” It’s wow — and it’s wonderful for your nervous system.

So What Is Sound Therapy, Anyway?


Sound therapy is the intentional use of sound vibrations to improve mental, emotional, and physical well-being. In a session, instruments like crystal singing bowls, tuning forks, gongs, and even the human voice are used to guide the body into a state of balance and regulation. While it’s deeply soothing, its benefits go far beyond relaxation — it actually shifts the way your brain and nervous system operate.



The Science Bit (Stick with Me — It’s Cool)


When your brain hears consistent rhythms (like in a sound bath), it starts to match them. This is called entrainment — and it can shift you from high-stress brainwaves (beta) into relaxed, healing states like alpha and theta. (Theta is where emotional healing, creativity, and deep intuition live. It’s also where that "post-meditation glow" kicks in.)
Wahbeh et al., 2007 – Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine

Sound activates the vagus nerve, helping shift the body from the sympathetic (“fight or flight”) to the parasympathetic (“rest and digest”) state. This is where Polyvagal Theory (by Dr. Stephen Porges) comes in. He found that that certain frequencies and vocal tones can stimulate vagal tone, reducing symptoms of anxiety and PTSD.

So if you’ve ever cried during a sound bath or suddenly felt like napping — this is why. Your body feels safe enough to let go.

However here are a couple of things to keep in mind because we say vocals we dont mean your voice in a whole sound therapy session here is how it works: Prosodic Vocal Tones (Warm, Melodic Speech): This isn’t about singing or bursting into song mid-session — it’s about how you speak. Prosodic tone means using gentle, soothing, expressive speech — the kind that rises and falls with warmth, rather than staying flat or robotic. It’s especially important in meditations, guidance, or any setting where you’re holding space for someone. Think of it as speaking with presence! It signals safety to the nervous system. It engages the ventral vagal complex, the “social engagement system” — which calms the heart, breath, and stress response. This also crosses over with Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) it's using vocal cues within therapy ( when I say this proper psychological, and psychotherapy sessions).


Motherese (Infant-Directed Speech):


You know that sing-song way parents talk to babies — slow, soft, a little exaggerated, and totally soothing? That’s called Motherese, and fun fact: adults respond to it too.

Therapists and healing practitioners often use this gentle, rhythmic tone when guiding clients, leading meditations, or holding space — because it helps people feel safe and settled. It’s not about singing or chatting non-stop (no running commentary needed) — it’s about speaking with calm, rhythmic intention that the nervous system naturally trusts.


Slow, Tonal Vocalizations (e.g. Humming, Chanting, Singing):


These kinds of vocal sounds — humming, vowel toning, gentle chanting — directly stimulate the vagal pathways that run through your throat, lungs, and diaphragm.
When you make sound — like humming or softly chanting — you're sending healing vibrations through your own vagus nerve, activating your parasympathetic system (that beautiful “rest and digest” state). This isn’t about passively receiving sound. It’s about using your own voice to calibrate your nervous system — like your body’s built-in tuning fork. That’s what makes it so powerful. Practices like OM chanting, toning vowel sounds (AH, OO, EE), or even slow devotional singing have all been shown to support nervous system regulation and create a deep sense of inner calm. (This is using your voice not someone elses to achieve this result.)


Moving on to how sound lowers stress levels:


One of my favourite studies (and one I lovingly mention in sessions) found that just 1 sound meditation significantly reduced tension, anxiety, depression, and even physical pain. People walked out calmer, clearer, and a little more in love with life.


Goldsby et al., 2016 – Journal of Evidence-Based Integrative Medicine


But Do Therapists Actually Use This?


Yes. Quite a few, actually.

Here are a few well-respected names in the field who blend sound, somatics, and science:

  • Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, author of The Body Keeps the Score, advocates for bottom-up approaches like sound, breath, and movement to help the body process trauma.

  • Dr. Peter Levine, founder of Somatic Experiencing, speaks to the healing power of rhythm and vibration in trauma resolution.

  • Dr. Mitchell Gaynor, an oncologist and author of The Healing Power of Sound, used crystal bowls and chanting with cancer patients to reduce emotional and physical stress. “Sound can shift biochemical responses, reduce pain perception, and bring the mind and body back into coherence.”


“Sound brings us back to harmony,” he said. I couldn’t agree more.

What Conditions Can It Support?


Sound therapy isn’t just a feel-good practice — it’s increasingly being recognized in clinical and therapeutic settings for its impact on the nervous system and emotional wellbeing. Here’s what research and practitioners say it can help with:


Anxiety & Emotional Burnout

By stimulating the vagus nerve and shifting brainwaves into relaxed states (alpha and theta), sound therapy helps down-regulate the stress response. Studies show a significant decrease in cortisol (the stress hormone) after sound meditations. Source: Goldsby et al., 2016, Journal of Evidence-Based Integrative Medicine


Trauma, PTSD & Grief

Sound bypasses the analytical mind and speaks directly to the limbic system — the emotional brain. According to Dr. Bessel van der Kolk (The Body Keeps the Score), trauma is stored in the body, and healing must happen through somatic (body-based) practices — sound being one of them.


Depression, Numbness & Disconnection

Chronic low mood is often linked to nervous system shutdown or dorsal vagal dominance (according to Polyvagal Theory). Sound therapy gently coaxes the body back into ventral vagal activation — the state of safety, presence, and connection.


Overwhelm, Brain Fog & Dysregulation

Certain instruments help the nervous system shift out of sensory overload and into a state of regulation. Why? Because our brains crave predictability and coherence — especially when we’re overwhelmed or dysregulated. Sound gives the mind something safe to anchor into. It slows mental chatter, sharpens clarity, and gently brings us back into presence and emotional balance.


Sleep Issues & Nervous System Fatigue

Certain sound slows brainwaves and supports parasympathetic dominance, making it easier to transition into deep rest. Practices like humming and slow chanting also help regulate breathing and heart rate — key components of good sleep.


“When the body feels safe, the mind can finally let go.”

Final Thoughts (and a Gentle Nudge)

If you’ve tried traditional routes and still feel stuck, depleted, or like you can’t “talk your way” through what you’re feeling — sound might be the missing piece. It was for me.

This isn’t about fixing you. It’s about coming back to yourself — breath by breath, vibration by vibration.



References::

  • Goldsby, T. L., et al. (2016). Effects of Singing Bowl Sound Meditation on Mood, Tension, and Well-being. J Evid Based Integr Med.

  • Wahbeh, H., et al. (2007). Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by Mindfulness Meditation. J Alt Comp Med.

  • Porges, S. (2011). The Polyvagal Theory

  • Gaynor, M. (2002). The Healing Power of Sound


Written by Kerry Muller



 
 
 

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