Energy Work · holistic pet health · Sound Therapy ·

Calm the Chaos: How Sound Helps Pets With Anxiety, Trauma & More

You believe in microwaves and Wi-Fi, right?

Good… then you already understand how sound therapy works.

Microwaves use energy waves to excite water molecules. Wi-Fi uses frequencies to deliver data invisibly. Sound therapy? It uses vibration, mechanical sound waves to shift your nervous system. And here’s the kicker: it works for animals just as much as it works for people.

We sat down with certified sound practitioner Terry Redmond of Stillness Within on our Get Fresh with Jenn podcast to unpack how sound therapy helps both pets and people heal, reset, and reconnect. Her story and experience made us rethink everything from “stress” to the ways our pets are picking up signals we never hear.

Let’s break it down.

What Is Sound Therapy?

Sound therapy uses frequencies, literal sound waves, to regulate the nervous system. It’s not music therapy (though music can be part of it). It’s about using specific instruments like singing bowls, tuning forks, gongs, and chimes to create vibrations that interact with your body’s energy systems.

Think of your body like a guitar. Stress, trauma, and overstimulation knock it out of tune. Sound therapy gently retunes it.

This isn’t a stretch. It’s physics. Sound is vibration. Your body is about 70% water. And vibration moves fast through water so it moves fast through you.

Terry uses techniques like:

  • Sound Baths – immersive experiences with harmonic instruments

  • Bio-field Tuning – using tuning forks in your body’s energy field

  • SomaEnergetics – vibrational tuning rooted in ancient Solfeggio frequencies

  • Animal Sound Therapy – customized sessions for pets

The Science: More Than Just a Vibe

Let’s get one thing straight - this isn’t woo. There’s measurable science behind sound therapy.

Like Wi-Fi, sound is invisible but powerful. You don’t see it. But your nervous system absolutely feels it. If the signal is chaotic (think city noise, high-frequency stressors), it throws you off. If the signal is clean and stable (think country evenings, calming tones), your body shifts into a parasympathetic state; that rest and repair and digest zone.

It activates real biological systems. Sound enters not just through your ears but through your skin, bones, and nervous system. It especially activates the vagus nerve, which connects your brain, lungs, heart, and gut. Calming frequencies can reduce heart rate, lower cortisol, and improve immune function.

It works across species. Dogs, cats, horses, pigs all respond. In one study, dogs exposed to reggae and soft rock showed reduced anxiety. Pigs exposed to Mozart had stronger immune systems and were visibly more relaxed.

Sound changes brainwaves. In EEG studies, animals showed shifts into alpha or theta states, those brainwave zones of calm, focus, and healing.

And yes this is happening in real life. Terry has worked with anxious cats, grieving donkeys, stressed-out dogs, and even insects that leap straight into her singing bowls. Her sessions help animals regulate in ways their guardians can see immediately.

Why Pets Respond So Well

Unlike humans, animals don’t overthink it. They don’t sit in a sound bath wondering if they “should” feel relaxed.

They either respond... or they walk away.

That’s actually part of Terry’s approach. In her animal sessions, she never forces it. The animal is free to engage, leave, return. It’s about consent. And often, they lean in…literally.

Signs a pet is responding:

  • Slower breathing

  • Moving closer to the sound source

  • Laying down or sighing

  • Less tension or restlessness

It’s not magic. It’s their nervous system adjusting in real time.

How sound therapy can help

For Pets:

  • Help ease anxiety, especially separation or trauma-based

  • Support recovery post-surgery or illness

  • Improve sleep and relaxation

  • Reduce reactivity or behaviour issues

  • Deepen your bond through shared calm

For You:

  • Regulate your nervous system and improve sleep

  • Reduce stress and overthinking

  • Support emotional release and focus

  • Promote healing from chronic tension or trauma

  • Enjoy a shared wellness experience with your pet

What a Session Looks Like

Terry offers both in-person and remote sessions. For animals, she often travels to their space, helping them feel safe and stay relaxed. Each session is quiet, intentional, and gentle. She uses instruments like bowls and tuning forks around or near the body, and always watches the animal’s cues.

People sessions include bio-field tuning or full sound baths, often leading to profound shifts in mood, clarity, and calm.

Ready to Experience It?

Terry Redmond of Stillness Within offers:

  • Private sessions for people and pets

  • Sound baths and group events

  • Bio-field tuning and SomaEnergetics sessions

  • Home visits for animals

Visit stillnesswithin.ca to book or email at terry@stillnesswithin.ca. Follow Stillness Within on facebook

Listen to our interview with Terry of Stillness Within

Listen to the podcast interview The Science of Sound: Is It Just Woo, or Is It Wired Into Us? Learn more about sound therapy, the science and how it affects the chakras. Listen HERE

Special Contest - Starting July 15, 2025

Enter to win a free* animal sound therapy session. Enter HERE Now!! Deadline to enter is August 15, 2025. Winner will be announced by the end of August. 

*Winners must be within 45 minutes travel distance to Alliston, ON

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