Dr. Gigi Turner, PsyD, is a visionary healer who has seamlessly merged her profound expertise in psychology with the transformative power of sound therapy. As a former psychology professor and psychotherapist, Dr. Turner now channels her extensive knowledge into her work as a Certified Sound Bath Practitioner. Since receiving her certification from Singing Bowls Immersion in 2015, she has founded Singing Bowls of the Rockies in Colorado Springs, a sanctuary where sound, energy, and relaxation come together to create an immersive experience of healing and tranquility. With over 100 crystal and Tibetan singing bowls, as well as a diverse array of instruments like chimes, flutes, and drums, Dr. Turner’s sound baths transport participants into a state of deep relaxation and self-awareness. Her sessions are designed not only to release tension and harmonize the body, mind, and soul but also to incorporate the psychological principles she mastered during her career. The interplay of resonant tones, nature sounds, and soothing vibrations takes participants on a journey that balances the physical and emotional realms, offering relief from stress, anxiety, and emotional burdens. In this exclusive Mystic Mag‘s interview, Dr. Turner discusses the powerful connection between psychology and sound, the inspiration behind her work, and the profound potential of sound baths to transform lives from the inside out.
How did your background as a psychology professor and psychotherapist influence your decision to transition into sound bath practices, and how do you integrate psychological principles into your sound healing sessions?
My background in psychology and psychotherapy deeply influenced my decision to transition into sound bath practices. Working closely with patients, I witnessed how emotional and mental health challenges manifest in the body, often beyond what verbal therapy can access. I began to explore alternative methods that could complement traditional psychotherapy, and sound baths offered a powerful tool for deeper relaxation and healing. I integrate psychological principles into my sound healing sessions by focusing on creating a safe and nurturing space, much like in therapy, where participants can release emotional blockages, regulate their nervous system, and experience a state of deep rest. Techniques like mindfulness and guided reflection are woven into the sound bath experience, allowing for an intentional connection between sound, emotion, and healing.
Your sound baths incorporate a wide variety of instruments. How do you select and combine these instruments to create a cohesive and therapeutic sound experience for your participants?
Each instrument I use brings a unique frequency and vibration that resonates with different parts of the body and mind. I carefully select and combine instruments like crystal and Tibetan singing bowls, gongs, chimes, drums, and flutes to create a harmonious and layered sound experience. The intention is to engage the participants’ senses in a way that promotes balance and alignment. For example, crystal bowls often resonate with higher frequencies, offering clarity, while the deep tones of the drum ground the participants. By layering sounds, I guide participants on a vibrational journey that encourages relaxation, emotional release, and physical healing.
What type of services do you offer?
I offer a range of sound bath experiences, from intimate, private sessions at our Colorado Springs studio to larger events, retreats, weddings, and corporate gatherings. We also offer collaborations, such as combining sound baths with yoga or Reiki, to deepen the healing experience. Our sessions can vary from 1.5-hour sound baths with reflections to full half-day retreats that include guided self-love and mindfulness exercises. Additionally, I design courses on sound healing, teaching others how to use sound as a tool for wellness and self-discovery
In your experience, how does the interplay of frequencies and vibrations in a sound bath affect the mind and body differently than traditional psychological therapies?
Frequencies and vibrations offer a non-verbal way to access and release stored emotions, bypassing the cognitive processing required in traditional therapy. The sound waves generated by instruments in a sound bath physically resonate with the body, affecting the nervous system, lowering stress levels, and inducing a state of calm that’s different from talk therapy. This deep relaxation allows participants to enter a meditative state where they can access subconscious layers of emotion and trauma. While traditional therapy engages the mind in understanding and processing these emotions, sound baths offer a more experiential release, allowing healing to happen organically and without effort.
As someone with a deep understanding of the mind, what role do you believe sound plays in accessing and healing the subconscious, and how does this influence the design of your sound bath experiences?
Sound is a powerful tool for accessing the subconscious because it bypasses the analytical mind and speaks directly to our emotions and nervous system. The repetitive and harmonious nature of sound can induce a trance-like state, which is key to reaching deeper layers of the mind where subconscious memories, emotions, and traumas are stored. In my sound baths, I carefully design the flow and progression of sound to create a safe and immersive environment that encourages participants to release control and allow the vibrations to guide them inward. This intentional design helps unlock suppressed emotions and fosters a state of openness and healing that can be challenging to achieve in more traditional, cognitive-based therapies.
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