Level One provides an introduction to the basics of sound healing including information on vibration, frequency, entrainment, resonance, the use of intention and intuition, sound healing research, and main philosophies of sound healing.  We go over contraindications and safety, ethics and professionalism, considerations for running a sound healing business, considerations for group sessions, and structuring/sequencing group sound meditations. 

 We teach the history, composition, uses, and playing techniques for a variety of instruments including crystal bowls and pyramids, chimes, Himalayan bowls, gongs, tingshas, drums, shakers, and other percussion.  We provide hands on time to practice on each type of instrument, multiple Q&A sessions throughout the training to deepen understanding and customize the training to the needs and interests of each group of students, and provide sound meditations to demonstrate the practical application of the theories and methods taught.

 Level One training culminates in a student-led sound bath for friends and family in order to put new skills to use and build confidence.  The training then ends with a ceremony and reception.

 Level One is held over three days and totals approximately 25 hours of instruction time. The training is limited to a maximum of 8 students.  We do not currently have any trainings scheduled, but are anticipating dates in spring of 2025.  If interested in receiving notice of training dates when announced, please use the link at the bottom of the page to sign up for our newsletter.

 The cost for Level One Group Sound Meditation training is $499 and includes tuition for the course, a manual, reception for graduates and a limited number of invited guests, access to a private Facebook group to network and share resources with past graduates, and ongoing mentorship and support.  A deposit of $299 is required at the time of registration, with any remaining balance due by July 19th.  Please see below for our refund policy.  Register for Level One.

This schedule is tentative and subject to change:

Day 1  8:30am-7pm (with 2 meal breaks)

•       Group Introductions
•       Basics of Sound Healing
•       Contraindications & Safety
•       Chimes – history, composition, uses, techniques, student practice
•       Crystal – history, composition, uses, techniques, student practice
•       Crystal Sound Bath

Day 2  8:30am-7pm (with 2 meal breaks)

•       Ethics & Professionalism
•       Considerations for Running a Sound Healing Business
•       Drums/Percussion – history, composition, uses, techniques, student practice
•       Himalayan Bowls – history, composition, uses, techniques, student practice
•       Gongs - – history, composition, uses, techniques (standing and hand held), student practice
•       Considerations for Group Sessions
•       Gong Sound Bath

 Day 3  9:00am-5:30pm (with 1 meal break and reception)

•       Structuring/Sequencing Group Sound Bath
•       Mini Sound Bath
•       Group Sound Bath Preparation
•       Student Led Sound Bath
•       Ceremony
•       Reception

 Level Two deepens sound healing clinical practice skills for use with individual clients.  Sound healing is a very powerful modality and can bring emotional wounds, trauma, and physical pain to the surface.  While this can be true for group sound meditations as well, individual sessions allow for focusing on clients’ unique needs, and therefore are often healing on a deeper level.  It is very important therefore to create a supportive space, practice informed consent, and understand limitations to scope of practice.  Level Two provides advanced training on ethical practice and confidentiality, trauma-informed care, and helping clients begin to process their experiences.

 In addition to the above, we add to the musical instrument training of Level One by including instruction on tuning forks, Shruti box, crystal practitioner bowls, and use of the voice in sound healing.  We provide hands-on time to practice on each type of instrument, multiple Q&A sessions throughout the training to deepen understanding and customize the training to the needs and interests of each group of students, and demonstrations of sound healing individual sessions which students are then able to practice on each other in pairs.

 We are still in process of finalizing the schedule and dates for Level Two training, but anticipate that it will be a 3-day in-person training, approximately 20 hours of instructional time.  The first two days of training will involve the full group for instructional and practice time, and the last day of training will be a clinic environment, in which students will provide an individual session to a friend or family member, with guidance and support from VHI trainers.  The group will then reconvene for a final Q&A to process their experiences providing an individual session.  The training will be limited to a maximum of 6 students per session and we are looking into dates in the fall of 2024.  Level One training through VHI is generally a prerequisite, however we will consider applications from those who have previously received sound healing training elsewhere on an individual basis.

Tuition for each level is $499, with a deposit due at time of registration and full payment due two weeks prior to the start of the training.  Please see the registration page for applicable dates and payment options.  A limited number of partial scholarships are also available once we have met our group size minimum, and you may contact us to inquire.

Information on our Refund Policy is available in the Frequently Asked Questions.

Our sound healing training courses are currently offered in-person only.  Learning vibrational healing techniques is a transformational experience, often creating a bond amongst the instructors and student cohort. It is our belief that we learn from one another as part of a co-created experience, and sharing physical space provides the optimal environment for developing relationships and sharing ideas.

Our training allows time for hands-on support through clinic experiences (demonstrating techniques on each other or individuals from the community), during which the instructors can provide guidance and feedback in real time, increasing the confidence of our students to offer both individual and group services in their communities.

Currently, our Sound Healing Certification Program is being taught by the Vibrational Healing Institute’s Directors, Lucia DiSimone and Sara Joy Kuhlen.  Our Directors share over 20 years of combined experience working with energy, sound, frequencies and vibration.  They have served clients in a variety of settings including, but not limited to: hospice, schools, prisons, hospitals, rehabilitation programs, and private practice. Their extensive experience  allows them to prepare students for how to best support clients experiencing difficult emotions related to past trauma and grief, as may be triggered by vibrational healing modalities. 

The Institute is committed to providing a well rounded education, ensuring that students feel confident providing vibrational healing techniques, with an emphasis on quality and professionalism.  Graduates receive ongoing mentoring and support and may connect with the Institute at any point after training. 

Learn more about the Institute and the Directors.

 When we first started providing sound healing training through the Vibrational Healing Institute, we advertised our program as a “40 Hour Sound Healing Certification Program”, and at time of successful completion of the program, we awarded certificates with the title of “Certified Sound Healing Practitioner.”  As graduates themselves of sound healing “certification” programs, VHI Co-Directors Lucia and Sara Joy felt this designation was appropriate, given the depth and breadth of VHI’s sound healing training program.

 The reality is that there is currently no national certification body for sound healing in the United States, nor any agreed upon standards for what a “certification” should entail.  Therefore there are a large number of “certification” courses available ranging from 2-hour prerecorded video sessions, up through the extremely extensive, multi-year program offered by the Globe Institute of Recording and Production, and many offerings in between, such as those attended by Lucia and Sara Joy.

In an effort to be fully transparent with the public, VHI has made the choice to no longer identify our training as a “certification” program.  All graduates are provided with a certificate of completion, and we are happy to provide a syllabus in support of the course content taught.  We stand behind the breadth and quality of our training and feel that the clinical emphasis, particularly of Level Two – Advanced Sound Healing Clinical Practice sets our training apart from many others.  We are deeply committed to this field and feel it is important to practice from a position of integrity.

 If you have any questions related to this topic, please do reach out to us as we are happy to discuss our position on the matter.

Massage practices can benefit from the addition of vibrational healing techniques in multiple ways.  Sound and energy healing can help clients relax more deeply, improving the effectiveness of massage, and increasing clients’ satisfaction.  Some instruments can be played directly on the body, massaging via vibration, easing the burden on massage therapists’ bodies.

The Instititue is in the process of developing training opportunities for licensed massage therapists, with a goal of eventually providing courses that are approved for Continuing Education credits in New Jersey.

Many yoga studios have recognized the healing power of sound and have begun incorporating the use of instruments into classes, especially during shavasana.  Not only can sound healing deepen relaxation and help sustain motivation during exertise routines, it also connects to the cultural roots of yoga, including nada yoga.

The Institute has developed a 5-hour yoga teacher training module on the incorporation of sound healing techniques into yoga practice, however modules of different lengths can be arranged as well.  If you are interested in offering a sound healing module in your own yoga teacher training program, please reach out to us.

While psychotherapists use a variety of techniques in their professional practices, the vast majority of therapists rely on a primarily verbal approach.  “Talk therapy” is very effective for many clients, but some may reach a plateau when they have healed all that they are consciously aware of, but have struggled to understand the subconscious roots of their maladaptive behavior patterns or emotional wounds.  Verbal defense mechanisms may allow clients to discuss their “feelings” rationally without ever having to truly feel them.

Sound, energy, and breathing techniques help induce a state of deep relaxation that allows clients to gently bypass overactive defense mechanisms, connecting more directly with previously unconscious material that is presenting for healing.  Sound healing with voice and instruments, as well as breathwork can also be used effectively to stimulate the Vagus nerve, interrupting the fight/flight/freeze stress response of the sympathetic nervous system, easing anxiety and helping clients feel more at home in their own bodies.

The Institute is currently developing a workshop on the integration of sound healing techniques with psychotherapy.  If you are interested in bringing this workshop to your group psychotherapy practice, please contact us.

Music therapists receive substantial training on the power of music to promote healing and growth, and how to harness this power to co-create a therapeutic relationship with clients.  However, most music therapy programs focus almost exclusively on Western music and instruments.  Assessment techniques, while varied, often leave out the intuition.

Sound healing approaches put an emphasis on sound over “music”, are often improvisatory, and encourage the use of intuition and assessment of clients’ energy fields.  Sound healing is a wonderful complement to “traditional” music therapy practice and provides a new set of techniques to help clients reach their goals.

The Institute is developing a workshop to introduce sound healing approaches to music therapists, with a goal of offering CMTE’s.

Educators have been required to adapt at a moment’s notice, teach in completely new ways, comply with mandates, and support their students through unparalleled change and stress.  With the return of in-person instruction, many students appear to be 1-2 years behind emotionally and socially.  Time that should be spent in instruction is instead spent reinforcing appropriate classroom behavior.

The Institute has a goal of supporting teachers with their own self care, and providing tools and techniques for use in the classroom to help students improve self-regulation skills.  Sound Healing integration workshops are currently in development.