Found in Sound FAQs
Got questions? You're not alone — and you're in the right place.Whether you're curious about sound healing, reiki, or what to expect from a session, this FAQ section is here to support your journey with clarity, warmth, and honesty.
​Who Should Avoid Sound Healing, Massage, or Reiki? ​
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Sound healing generally brings positive effects to many the world over, but it may not be suitable for everyone. We recommend avoidance — or medical consultation — for those who are:
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In their first trimester of pregnancy
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Living with a pacemaker
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Managing epilepsy, severe mental illness, or unstable physical health
Sound Massage may not be suitable if you have spinal issues, slipped, herniated, or bulging discs.
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Reiki on the other hand is very gentle and can be given the majority of the time. The only conditions where we'd need to be cautious is with a pacemaker, and serious mental health conditions. Generally it is safe for everything else.
You can find full guidance on health precautions here: https://www.foundinsound.co.uk/general-health-precautions
Before any one-to-one treatment with Found in Sound, you'll also be asked to complete a Consultation and Medical History Form to give you the opportunity to disclose any important medical information before booking to ensure your health and safety. If you're unsure about anything, arrange a call with Found in Sound first, or speak with your GP or healthcare practitioner.
What is Sound Healing?
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Sound healing is an evidence-informed practice that uses frequency, rhythm, and vibration to support the body’s natural ability to return to balance. It creates the conditions for your nervous system to downregulate, your brainwaves to shift into meditative states, and your energy body to recalibrate.
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While it may feel modern, sound healing is rooted in ancient traditions across cultures — from Tibetan and Aboriginal practices to Egyptian and Greek philosophies. Today, research continues to explore how sound and music can support emotional regulation, pain reduction, and even neuroplasticity.
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As John Stuart Reid says, “In sound healing, the goal isn't to directly heal the body, but to cultivate conditions within which your body can heal itself." John Stuart Reid is an acoustic engineer and the inventor of the Cymascope, known for his pioneering research into the healing properties of sound and the science of cymatics where sound is made visible.
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How Does Sound Healing Work?
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Sound healing works on multiple levels:
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1) Neurological entrainment: Sound waves enter the ear, travel through the auditory nerve, and influence your brainwave state — slowing activity and creating a deep meditative space where insight, creativity, and rest can flourish. As the brain slows down, your heart rate naturally decreases, your breathing deepens, and your body begins to move into a state of parasympathetic rest — also known as the "rest and digest" state.
2) Vibrational massage: even down to the cells: Sound physically moves through the body, creating gentle internal vibration that can stimulate tissues, muscles, and organs — a kind of massage from the inside out. This vibrational stimulation helps loosen tension, reduce muscular pain, and break up stagnation. It also boosts blood flow and circulation, which is key for cellular repair, immune health, and the removal of toxins — supporting the body's natural ability to heal.
3) Vagal stimulation: Vibration — especially from instruments placed near or on the body, or through humming or using the voice — can gently activate the vagus nerve, which runs from the brainstem through the heart, lungs, and gut. This activation plays a key role in shifting your nervous system from fight-or-flight into rest-and-repair mode. Over time, repeated stimulation through sound may help improve vagal tone — which supports emotional regulation, better digestion, reduced inflammation, and a greater sense of calm and resilience.
4) Energetic harmonisation: Different frequencies interact with your energetic body, helping to realign areas of disharmony or emotional blockages. This is why many people feel lighter, clearer, or more connected after a session.
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However, sound healing also works by the power of intention. Intention amplifies the effects. As Jonathan Goldman, Pioneer in Sound Healing, famously said, Frequency + Intention = Healing. This includes the intention of the practitioner, as well as the individual.
How Does Reiki Work?
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Like sound healing, Reiki is based on the principle that everything is made of energy — vibrating at different frequencies. It works not by force, but by facilitation — offering the body what it needs to return to a natural state of balance. Here’s how Reiki works, step by step:
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1) Reiki channels universal life energy. The word Reiki combines Rei (universal) and Ki (life energy). During a session, the practitioner becomes a conduit for this subtle, intelligent energy — allowing it to flow naturally to where it’s needed most, supporting balance and renewal without manipulation or control.
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2) Your body receives what it is ready for. Reiki isn’t something that’s “done to” you — it’s a gentle reminder to your system of what it already knows. It’s a tool that helps your body remember its own innate ability to restore, release, and rebalance. Your system will take in only what it’s ready for, making each session personal and unique.
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3) It works on the whole being — not just symptoms. Reiki supports healing on multiple levels at once: physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual. Many people report feeling a sense of peace, insight, or energetic release, even if they can’t explain why.​​
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4) It raises vibration and restores flow. Illness or imbalance is often associated with poor diet, stress, or stagnation (poor circulation & blocked energy). Reiki helps re-establish healthy energetic flow and raises your vibrational state — creating conditions in which your body can rebalance and repair itself.
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Again, intention matters. Just like in sound work, intention amplifies the effects. Coming to Reiki with openness, curiosity, or a specific healing focus can deepen the experience.
How Many Sessions Will I Need?
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That depends on your intention — and whether you're attending group sessions, one-to-ones, or both. Some people feel a shift after just one session. Others attend regularly to support deeper emotional healing, nervous system regulation, or to maintain balance in a busy world.
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Group sound baths offer a beautiful way to gently reset and reconnect — especially when attended regularly. One-to-one sessions allow for more personalised support and can be helpful for exploring specific challenges or working at a deeper energetic level.
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Ultimately, sound healing and reiki meets you where you are. You’re welcome to come once, come occasionally, or make it part of your ongoing wellbeing practice.
How Can I Prepare For A Sound Healing or Reiki Session?
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Unless you've booked a series of 1-2-1s and you've been given an inter-session activity to support your wellbeing, there’s nothing special you need to do — just come with an open mind, an open heart, and a willingness to receive. To support your experience, we suggest:
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Avoiding stimulants (like caffeine) beforehand
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Wearing loose, comfortable clothing
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Bringing water, and any extra layers or props you may need to feel cosy
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Setting a positive, gentle intention eg. what would you like to release or receive? (although we do set one together as a group in the group ones)
You’ll be guided through everything on the day, so there’s no pressure to “get it right”, and there really is no getting it wrong anyway.
What If I Don't Feel Anything During The Session?
That’s perfectly okay. Sometimes the effects are subtle — a tingling in the hands & toes, a sense of calm, softness, or a clearer mind that arrives hours or days later. Other times, it may feel more emotional, visual, or physical. There’s no right or wrong way to experience sound healing. Your body will take in what it needs — even if you don’t consciously feel it at the time. ​We do recommend journalling as part of your wellbeing journey, to notice these subtleties, especially if you attend regularly.
What Happens After A Session?
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After a session, you may feel deeply relaxed, uplifted, or even emotional — this is all part of the body’s natural recalibration process.
​Some people report vivid dreams, better sleep, increased clarity, or spontaneous emotional release in the days that follow. You’ll be given aftercare guidance and are always welcome to reach out if you need support integrating the experience. We recommend drinking plenty of water, resting if needed, and giving yourself space to reflect. Avoid alcohol and stimulants for a couple of days.
Can I Combine Sound Healing With Other Therapies? What About Reiki?
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Yes — Sound Healing and Reiki can complement many other therapies beautifully, as part of your holistic approach to healing, just like we combine the two together. Here's some suggestions as to what you could combine it with, although the options are limited only by your mind. The key is to find what resonates best with you.
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Eating a healthy, plant-forward diet as nutrition is hugely key to good health
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A fitness plan
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Energy work
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Talk therapy
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Aromatherapy
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Bodywork (like massage or craniosacral therapy)
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Medical or mental health support (with consent from your practitioner)
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Meditation
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Forest bathing
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Crystal healing
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Angelic healing
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Kinesiology
If you’re currently receiving treatment for a specific condition, we recommend speaking with your healthcare provider to ensure sound healing fits safely within your plan.