Sound at Whole Life Studio

Sound has the capacity to reach us in ways that words cannot. At Whole Life Studio, sound is offered in different formats — integrated within psychotherapy, experienced through group Sound Baths, and explored as a healing practice in its own right. Grounded in a trauma-informed, Polyvagal approach, sound provides a safe and supportive entry point for regulation, integration, and transformation.

The Therapeutic Nature of Sound

Sound works directly with the body and nervous system, making it a powerful complement to trauma-informed and Polyvagal approaches.

How sound supports healing:

• Nervous System Regulation – calming hyperarousal, softening collapse, and creating pathways to balance

• Brainwave Entrainment – shifting brainwaves into alpha and theta states linked with rest, integration, and creativity

• Polyvagal Engagement – stimulating the vagus nerve, enhancing states of safety, co-regulation, and presence

Through natural entrainment, sound synchronizes body, breath, heart, and mind. It bypasses verbal processing and supports release of old patterns, opening pathways for presence and integration.

Sound in Therapy

Sound can be integrated directly into individual or couples therapy sessions. Singing bowls, tuning forks, gongs, and voice are used intentionally to complement talk-based or somatic work.

Therapeutic benefits include:

• Supporting nervous system regulation through vibration and tone

• Helping clients access states of calm and presence

• Complementing EMDR, somatic therapy, and mindfulness practices

• Offering a non-verbal pathway for processing and integration

From a Polyvagal perspective, sound stimulates the vagus nerve, helping clients move from states of defense into states of safety, connection, and regulation. Sound also entrains brainwave activity, making it easier to access the restorative alpha and theta states associated with deep relaxation and healing.

Sound and the Body

Sound is experienced as vibration through tissue, bone, and fluid — felt as much as heard. This physical resonance supports nervous system regulation and embodied grounding.

Effects on the body include:

• Releasing muscular and emotional tension

• Calming patterns of stress or hypervigilance

• Promoting states of safety and balance

• Supporting the body’s innate self-regulation

How It Comes Together in a Sound Bath

In a Sound Bath, the body and mind are engaged simultaneously:

• The body resonates with vibration, releasing tension and supporting regulation.

• Consciousness shifts into restorative states, opening access to presence, insight, and renewal.

• The facilitators create a safe and intentional soundscape that invites trust and belonging.

This integration of body, consciousness, and community allows each participant to experience sound as a pathway to regulation, restoration, and wholeness.

Sound and Consciousness

At the same time, sound influences awareness by entraining brainwave frequencies. Steady tones and rhythms guide the brain into slower, restorative states linked to healing and integration.

Effects on consciousness include:

• Shifting into alpha and theta brainwave states

• Accessing reflective, creative, or non-ordinary states of awareness

• Supporting deep relaxation and reduction of anxiety

• Facilitating safe, trauma-informed exploration of altered states

Sound Bath Events

Sound Baths are immersive, group-based experiences offered monthly at Whole Life Studio. Participants are invited to lie down or sit comfortably while waves of sound from Himalayan and crystal singing bowls, gongs, tuning forks, drums, and voice move through the space.

What to expect in a Sound Bath:

• A gentle opening with breathwork, mindfulness, or intention-setting

• Immersion in resonant tones that create deep rest and non-ordinary states of awareness

• Integration through toning, silence, or mindful movement

• A safe, supportive environment that invites belonging and expression

Sound Baths provide a pause in the busyness of life — an opportunity for rest, regulation, and renewal within community.

Facilitators

Sound Bath events are led by Surya Leigh Mellor (RP, MFA, MPS), psychotherapist, artist and sound practitioner. She is often joined by Rosemary Crick, musician, choir leader, reiki instructor, biodynamic farmer and founder of Crickhollow. Rosemary’s voice and cello add depth and resonance, enriching the soundscape with warmth and artistry.

Together we weave therapeutic, musical, and intuitive approaches to create an atmosphere of safety, resonance, and exploration.