Have you heard about sound therapy and how many people are enjoying the benefits of engaging in it? Sound therapy uses music and other auditory sounds to help minimize the symptoms of several types of mental health disorders.
One common trait among most mental illnesses is difficulty relaxing and feeling grounded in a peaceful and beautiful moment in time. If you are interested in incorporating holistic therapy in your treatment plan for improving your mental health, sound therapy may be able to elevate your ability to relieve stress and connect to the world through natural methods. Montare Outpatient is proud to include sound therapy as part of our multi-disciplinary treatment of mental health disorders.
What is Sound Therapy?
Sound therapy can be traced back to ancient civilizations and is even referred to in scriptural text. Throughout history, several cultures have utilized music, chanting, and other types of sound as a form of helping people achieve and maintain good physical, emotional, and spiritual health. The genesis of sound therapy originated in the cultures of Tibet and the Himalayas.
Many people used Tibetan singing bowls, which are made of metal and produce pleasing tones when struck in particular ways and rhythms. The bowls themselves were originally used in ceremonies conducted by monks to help heal people or as part of a spiritual service.
Sir Peter Guy Manners, an English osteopath, helped bring sound therapy into the world of modern, Western medicine in the mid-20th century. Sir Manners performed research in the 1960s exploring the effects of using audible voice frequency in different types of treatment. He determined there are approximately 600 frequencies, and each one is associated with a different part of the human body. As a result, many practitioners can choose the sounds they create based on what type of healing the person requires.
Sound therapy has become more common in the U.S. and more practitioners offer it as a healing service. Studies show that it can make a measurable difference in a person’s well-being. As well, people interested in holistic therapy often turn to sound therapy as a way to help boost their moods, reduce anxiety, and feel more in touch with themselves and their surroundings. In the modern age, many people take part in music therapy, instrumental therapy, vocal therapy, and other types of sound therapy as part of their treatment program for mental health disorders. It can also help people experiencing addiction to drugs or alcohol.
How Does Sound Therapy Treat Mental Health?
Consider this: sound travels approximately four times faster through water than air. The human body is 70% water, making it understandable that sound therapy can be beneficial.
When an individual strikes an object and places it next to or touching another object, the other object vibrates. Singing bowls produce a vibratory sound when a wooden mallet is used to tap or rub them. While the sensation may not be obvious to the person, their bodies are affected by the vibrations. Experts who provide sound therapy understand the right combination of sounds to use to help stimulate a person in ways that promote relaxation and reduce stress.
Sound therapy helps treat people struggling with mental illnesses in a few different ways. The instruments used penetrate people’s tissues. This regulates muscle tension, stimulates the tissues, and helps improve a person’s blood circulation and metabolism. These actions can promote the stimulation of regeneration functions. This can contribute to lowering a person’s blood pressure, cholesterol and stress levels.
All of these actions can help reduce or eliminate many of the symptoms of mental health disorders. This includes anxiety, depression, PTSD, bipolar disorder, ADHD, and more. Many people also find it improves their sleep quality. When an individual’s response is triggered by sound therapy, it can cause them to have fewer symptoms related to anxiety and stress.
How to Find the Best Sound Therapy
If you are interested in finding sound therapy sessions, it may feel overwhelming trying to narrow down the choices at first. If you are currently in individual, group, or other types of therapy, ask your therapist for a referral. You can also ask your primary care physician if they can make a recommendation.
Talk to your friends, particularly those with an interest or experience in holistic therapy, and see if they know of any places to contact. You can also do an online search for sound therapy in your area. Finally, contact your insurance company and ask if they cover sound therapy. If they do, they can let you know which practitioners are in-network.
Contact Montare Behavioral Health Outpatient
Have you put in time attending therapy appointments, using traditional therapy modalities, and taking medication? If you have but still don’t feel the amount of relief you desire has been achieved, sound therapy may be the missing puzzle piece of your treatment plan. At Montare Outpatient, we believe in keeping up with the most up-to-date treatments available. Sound therapy is on the cutting edge of modern approaches to help people connect with a sense of peace within themselves and unity with the world.
Would you like to learn more about how modern treatments can improve your mental health? Contact us today to find out how we can help you or someone you love.
