What is sound healing?
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Sound healing harnesses the power of vibration to support the nervous system and encourage the body’s natural healing processes. Singing bowls, traditionally crafted in India, Tibet, and the Himalayan region, are among the most widely used instruments in this practice.
While their exact origins remain somewhat mysterious, their resonance has long been recognized for its profound effects on mind and body. For thousands of years, cultures across the globe have used sound in rituals and ceremonies as a means of fostering connection, balance, and healing.
Is sound healing recognized by the medical community?
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Yes, sound healing and its impact has been recognized by scientists and doctors across the globe. Some healthcare settings, including hospitals, have integrated sound healing into their systems.
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"If we accept that sound is vibration and we know that vibration touches every part of our physical being, then we understand that sound is heard not only through our ears but through every cell in our bodies."
~Dr. Michelle Gaynor, author of The Healing Power of Sound and former director of Medical Oncology and Integrative Medicine, the Cornell Cancer Prevention Center in New York.
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How does sound healing work?
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To understand how sound healing works, we must first recognize that sound is an exceptionally powerful form of energy. Both ancient Vedic philosophers and modern scientists at NASA and CERN agree that the universe itself was created through sound.
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Singing bowls, traditionally crafted from copper and tin, produce vibrations when tapped with a felt or leather striker. These vibrations resonate at frequencies often associated with love and wisdom. When the bowls are placed on or near the body, their sound waves can help restore balance and support healing across physical, emotional and psychological levels.
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Stress remains the leading cause of illness in body, mind, and spirit. In Chinese medicine, these three aspects of being are inseparable—each requires nourishment and care. Sound offers a unique way of addressing them all at once.
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The nervous system, in particular, is highly responsive to sound. Hearing is the first sense to develop in the womb and the last to remain before death. When the deep, harmonious tones of singing bowls wash over the body, the nervous system naturally shifts towards relaxation, helping to ease stress and invite balance to the body, mind and spirit.
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EDUCATION
Susannah Pitman DAc, LAc (she/her) is a NCCAOM certified Diplomate in acupuncture and is a licensed acupuncturist in the state of New Jersey. In 2006 she earned her Master of Science in acupuncture with honors from Tri-State College of Acupuncture where she studied with some of the finest master practitioners involved in the expansion of acupuncture in the United States. In 2020, ahe received her Doctoral degree in Acupuncture from Pacific College of Health and Science. She also studied at China Beijing International Acupuncture Training Center where she attended lectures and assisted Chinese masters in treating patients. She has traveled all over Japan to study with several Japanese masters, including Dr. Shuichi Katai who leads the World Health Organization’s acupuncture point standardization team, and Yoshihiro Kawai, whose electrical stimulation inventions and techniques have heavily influence acupuncture in Japan and throughout the world. Dr. Susannah practices a Japanese style of acupuncture developed by world renowned master acupuncturist Kiiko Matsumoto, with whom she studied directly from at TSCA as well as traveled to Japan.
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Currently, Dr. Susannah serves as President of the New Jersey Acupuncture Society. In the aftermath of Hurricane Irene and Superstorm Sandy, Dr. Susannah co-coordinated stress relief teams at multiple clinics through Acupuncturists Without Borders.
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Dr. Susannah achieved her Advanced Level 1 Certification in sound healing from the International Academy of Sound Healing.
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Dr. Susannah is heavily involved in the Boonton community. She currently serves as Lecturing Knight of Boonton Elks Lodge #1405. She co-founded Boonton Rainbow Pride and served as a trustee of Boonton Main Street.
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Dr. Susannah's book Peace With Trees was published by Soleil Press. Her articles have been published by The Huffington Post, PTSD Journal, Elephant Journal, The Mighty and Thrive Global.
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In her spare time, Dr. Susannah enjoys hiking, writing, and traveling.
SUSANNAH PITMAN DAc, LAc
CREDENTIALS
NCCAOM Diplomate in Acupuncture
New Jersey Licensed Acupuncturist
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VOLUNTEER
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New Jersey Acupuncture Society - President, former Secretary
Acupuncturists Without Borders - NJ Co-coordinator for Hurricane Sandy and Hurricane Irene relief efforts
Changing Health, Inc. - Former Secretary, Co-Founder​
Boonton Rainbow Pride - Co-Founder
Boonton Main Street - Volunteer, Former Trustee
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AWARDS
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The Best of the Best by The Daily Record -
2016 + 2017 + 2018 “One of the best” in “holistic care”
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Natural Choice Awards by Natural Awakenings Magazine -
2012 + 2013 “Favorite Acupuncturist”
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EDUCATION
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Syracuse University
Bachelor of Science, 1999
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Institute For Therapeutic Massage
Massage Certificate, 2002
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China Beijing International Acupuncture Training Center
Certificate, 2005
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Tri-State College of Acupuncture
Master of Science, 2006
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Pacific College of Health and Science
Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, 2020
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International Academy of Sound Healing
Advanced Level 1 Certification, 2025
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CONTINUING EDUCATION
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Acupuncturists Without Boarders
American Red Cross
Bastry University
Eastern School of Acupuncture and
Traditional Medicine
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Goto College of Medical Arts and Sciences, Tokyo
Pacific College of Health and Science
Thousand Hands Institute
Tri-State College of Acupuncture