Tips & Tricks

Tips & Tricks

Music based strategies for care

Sound Therapy

Whilst caregiving is rewarding, it is inarguably stressful at times. Sound therapy offers a simple, effective way to reduce stress, enhance relaxation, and create a calming environment for caregivers and those they support.

What is Sound Therapy?

Sound therapy uses music, vibration, and specific instruments like Tibetan singing bowls, gongs, and tuning forks to promote relaxation. The British Academy of Sound Therapy describes it as a practice that combines sound, music, and self-reflection techniques to improve well-being. Sound therapy has a scientific basis. Dr. Lee Bartel is an expert in vibroacoustics and describes how sound affects us at a cellular level in his Ted talk.

Benefits for Caregivers

As a self-care practice for caregivers, sound therapy may:

1. Reduce stress & anxiety, lowering cortisol, the stress hormone, and activates the parasympathetic nervous system, promoting relaxation.
2. Boost mood & emotional balance by releasing endorphins, reducing pain and lifting mood.
3. Improve sleep & focus which helps manage fatigue and restore energy.
4. Creates a calming atmosphere to support relaxation and reduce any agitation within the circle of care.

Easy Ways to Use Sound Therapy

There are three easy way to use sound therapy for caregiver self-care.

• Singing Bowls are quartz bowls that produce tones meant to promote deep meditation. They come in sizes ranging from very large to very small, all of which produce different tones. Tibetan singing bowls look similar to crystal singing bowls, and are used in the same way, but are typically made from bronze or copper. Research shows that singing bowls reducing feelings of tension, anxiety, and depression while promoting spiritual well-being. 
  
  
• Binaural Beats are sound frequencies that synchronize and balance both hemispheres of the brain by listening to a different tone in each ear that align and create a beat of its own. This aligns brain frequencies to reduce stress and improve focus. Using binaural beats in certain circumstances may be done prescriptively. Curated programs using binaural beats exist online.
  
  
• Guided Sound Meditations are body scans or breath awareness sessions that encourage the listener to be present in the moment. Music and sound are helpful as they can anchor focus and attention. The Daily Om and The Calm App both have guided meditations with music as an option.

Accessible and easy to integrate, sound therapy helps caregivers manage stress while enhancing the care experience. A few minutes a day can make a meaningful difference.

Sharing a Meaningful Song

Sharing a meaningful song can strengthen relationships and create close connections in care settings such as family homes, hospices, hospitals, long-term care homes, therapy sessions, group homes, youth centers, and support groups.

How to Share a Meaningful Song:

Ask for a Song Title: Invite the care receiver to name a song that holds personal significance. Use prompts like:

       - “Is there a song that tells a story about your life?”

       - “What song would help me understand you better?”

Locate the Song: If they can’t provide the song themselves, search for it using platforms like YouTube, iTunes, or public libraries.

Listen Together: Create a shared moment by listening to the song together. This can foster connection and meaningful discussion.

Ask About Its Meaning: Gently explore what the song means to them and how it reflects their life or emotions. Respect their willingness to share.

Offer Feedback: Reflect on the song using “I” statements. For example:

-“I felt peacefulness in the music.”

-“I imagined a serene forest while listening.”

Deepen the Process: If needed, involve a counselor, music therapist, or spiritual care provider to support the experience.

This strategy provides an opportunity for reflection, connection, and self-expression, creating a meaningful moment for both you and the care receiver.