What Sound Therapy can (and cannot) do
Many people arrive at Sound Therapy with curiosity - and also with questions. Some seek for deep relaxation, others for emotional release, insight or healing. Sound Therapy can support all of these, but it’s important to be clear what it actually offers.
Sound Therapy works primarily through the nervous system. Sustained tones, rhythm and vibration can help the body shift from a state of activation into regulation. For many people, this feels like relaxation, grounding or a sense of being more present. Over time, repeated experiences of regulation can support resilience, self-awareness and a deeper connection to bodily signals.
In physical terms, sound is vibration moving through matter. When something vibrates - a voice, a drum, a string, a bowl, a gong, … - it sets air in motion and reaches our bodies. As we are mostly made of water and soft tissues (which are excellent conductors of vibration), sound can actually be FELT within the body, rather than “just” reaching our ears. We respond emotionally, neurologically and physiologically to sound. And in this context it is a gentle way to influence the body's internal rhythms such as breath, heart rate or muscle tension. While certain tones can soothe us, others can energize, bring a sense of spaciousness or even feel uncomfortable. And each instrument comes with a specific energy, message, spirit. Sound will always meet us where we are and accordingly to the intention we've set. It works directly with subconscious layers of our being and often beyond our direct understanding.
Research into sound-based practices is still growing, but seems to show consistent findings about positive effects, such as:
relaxation responses, f. e. reduced heart rate and blood pressure, nervous-system regulation
reduced stress, anxiety, tension, anger, fatigue and negativity
improved mood and well-being, including increased clarity, ease and calmness
improved sleep quality and emotional regulation
From a holistic and spiritual perspective, sound has long been seen as a gateway into our inner realms in many ancient traditions. Cultures around the world have been using sound - drumming, chanting, singing, … - to enter meditative or expanded states of awareness. Beyond physiology, sound can
quiet the mind in order to access intuition, insight or emotional release
clear stagnation, heaviness, tension and stress within all the layers of our light body
activate dormant potential within us
create a sense of connection and belonging beyond words
evoke a feeling of homecoming and remembrance
Following the spiritual thread even deeper, we need to open our mind beyond our usual way of thinking. As for me, there is also a sound beyond the hearing: The living sound of the spheres, the multidimensional realms where are connected to, the echoes of God's breath that is the origin of All. In this sense, all organic, all that comes from this pure source, carries the same underlying frequency of truth and love as it has literally been sung into creation. In this way, sound carries a deep remembrance that goes far beyond our human understanding, but can be recognized by our souls. Connecting to the original song of creation supports resonance with the original frequencies of source and the symphony of life itself.
Coming back to the tangible again: What Sound Therapy does not do is “fixing” issues on its own. It does not replace medical treatment, psychotherapy or other forms of support when these are needed. It also doesn’t guarantee emotional breakthroughs or spiritual experiences. Sometimes the most meaningful effect is subtle: a calmer baseline or an increased ability to notice one’s inner state.
Sound Therapy is best understood as a supportive practice - one that creates conditions in which body and mind can reorganize themselves. It invites listening rather than effort and receptivity rather than control.
In my work, I value transparency over promises. Sound is a powerful medium, but its power lies in how it meets each person differently. When approached with curiousity and respect, it can become a reliable ally in learning how to rest, sense and respond to life wisely.