What Is Sound Therapy? Understanding How Sound Regulates the Nervous System

Описание: What Is Sound Therapy? Understanding How Sound Regulates the Nervous System
Welcome to another episode of Tea with the Experts and Dr. Leah Merle!
🎙 Episode 26: What Is Sound Therapy?
📅 Release Date: February 01, 2026
👥 Guest: Mary O’Sullivan

In this episode of Tea with the Experts and Dr. Leah Merle, Dr. Leah is joined by integrative counsellor, meditation guide, and mental health advocate Mary O’Sullivan for a grounded, accessible exploration of sound therapy as a therapeutic intervention.

The conversation begins with guided imagery, gently orienting the mind and body, before moving into a deeper discussion of sound as a tool for nervous system regulation, emotional processing, and embodied healing. Together, Dr. Leah and Mary explore how vibration, tone, and rhythm work beneath the thinking mind, why sensory-based approaches can be especially effective when words are no longer enough, and how sound therapy supports individuals living with trauma, anxiety, burnout, and neurodivergence.

Blending conversation, nervous-system education, and lived experience, this episode offers listeners both intellectual understanding and an opportunity to feel the work in their own bodies. Rather than positioning sound therapy as an alternative or trend-based practice, this discussion situates it firmly within trauma-informed, compassionate care.

Whether you are new to sound therapy or curious about how it fits into modern mental health practice, this episode invites you to slow down, listen deeply, and experience what becomes possible when healing is not only understood—but embodied.

☕ Grab your favorite cuppa and join us for a restorative, reflective conversation. Subscribe now and be part of the movement toward a more compassionate, nervous-system-informed world.

Disclaimer:
The content of this podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional mental health counseling, therapy, or psychological care. If you are experiencing mental health concerns or need support, please seek guidance from a licensed mental health professional in your area. If you are in crisis or experiencing an emergency, contact your local emergency services immediately.

Professional Guest Bio:
Mary O’Sullivan is an integrative counsellor, meditation guide, and mental health advocate based in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham. She currently works in private practice at Sunshine & Showers Counselling, where she supports clients to explore their thoughts, emotions, and inner worlds in a safe, compassionate, and trauma-informed space.

Mary holds a BA (Hons) in Integrative Counselling and draws on a wide range of therapeutic approaches, including Person-Centred Therapy, CBT, Compassion-Focused Therapy, and psychodynamic and humanistic models. Her work is grounded in the belief that healing happens when people feel truly seen, heard, and accepted — and when the nervous system is given the conditions it needs to soften and regulate.

Alongside her clinical work, Mary has a strong background in mental health communication and advocacy. She previously hosted Conversations with Mary on Aycliffe Radio, where she explored anxiety, depression, lived experience, and emotional wellbeing through honest, stigma-free conversations. She has also worked as a volunteer counsellor in hospice and college settings, supporting people through grief, illness, identity shifts, and life transitions.

In recent years, Mary has expanded her practice to include guided meditation and sound-based therapeutic approaches, recognising the profound role of the body, breath, and sensory experience in healing. Her work helps clients move beyond purely cognitive insight and into deeper nervous-system regulation, emotional safety, and embodied self-connection.

Mary’s style is warm, grounded, and deeply relational, offering a bridge between evidence-based counselling and the gentle power of stillness, sound, and presence.

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