As the popularity of sound healing as a complementary therapy grows worldwide, so too does the debate regarding which is the most appropriate job title for sound healing practitioner to use. Many preferring to use the much older job title of “Sound Healer”, born from an age where “energy healing” was a mystical practice, reserved only for those born with “special abilities”. With the knowledge and skills only being transferred to descendants within certain families.
There was an excellent reason for doing this – and it wasn’t at all egotistical. To ensure the knowledge and skills remained highly respected and “sacred”, preserved for future generations and not completely wiped out by the conquering rulers who were burning all “healers” as “witches” at the stake. And thus, the tradition of “healers” in every community was able to survive behind the scenes through centuries of oppression to its modern day existence.
We now see these ancient healing traditions in modern times, studied by scientists and accepted for mainstream use. For example in my homeland Australia Reiki Healing has been used in hospitals to aid patient recovery for over 25 years, where it is used in its pure, untainted original form – without any Religious or other energetic “contamination”. Also in my homeland Australia the field of Naturopathy is now standardised as a University degree.
It’s nobody’s business to judge the reasons for others choosing their job title. If some choose to use the job title of “Sound Healer” because that’s what they are most comfortable with, it doesn’t mean they are using the job title for egotistical reasons. I know of “Sound Healers” who love their job title, as to them, they are very much carrying on the old traditions and proud of it, their job title reflects this.
We are all on a different journey through life, and we are all exactly where we are meant to be right now. Sound Healer or Sound Therapist, we all have a role to play in the world.
I would argue that for every “Sound Healer” using their job title for egotistical reasons, (there are certainly some!) there is also a “Sound Therapist” or “Sound Practitioner” who is using their job title for egotistical reasons.
In my professional experience the job title “Sound Healer” is less likely to be recommended by general health practitioners, which is why I don’t use the job title “Sound Healer” myself. But that’s only due to my background and experience. Being University educated in natural medicine, from a country where complementary therapies has been strictly regulated for decades and that my clinical experience in sound medicine extends from nearly ten years in a busy Traditional Chinese Medicine & Naturopathy clinic in Australia in the 1990’s, where sound medicine was used daily as a powerful and effective natural treatment.
A clinic where the job titles of all using sound medicine included Naturopath, Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Iridologist, Bowen Therapist, Bio-Energy Therapist, Acupuncturist, Pharmacist-turned-Nutritionist and so forth. None would ever use the job title “Sound Healer” due to the professional nature of their roles. No egos there, just the practicality of their roles as natural health practitioners, in a country where complementary therapies have been highly regulated for decades.
Different background, different clinical focus, different reason for my choice of Job title, doesn’t mean I am any better than anyone else because I don’t choose the job title of “Sound Healer” as others do, because that’s what best suits their business focus.
Sound Healers, Sound Therapists, Therapeutic Sound Practitioners – there is an important place in the world for all of us.
Sharon Quigley, Founder & Training Director
International Academy of Sound Therapy
