The Healing Power of Sound: Learning to Listen Differently – There are certain things we experience every day without really noticing them. Sound is one of them. We hear music playing in the background, birds singing in the garden, the rain against the window, the hum of traffic and the voices of the people around us, but how often do we actually stop and think about how those sounds make us feel?
That was one of the things I found most interesting about The Healing Power of Sound: The fundamental therapeutic guide by Lyz Cooper. Rather than treating sound simply as something we hear, Cooper encourages us to think about it as something we can consciously use to influence how we feel, relax, focus and reconnect with ourselves.
As someone who is increasingly interested in wellbeing and the small changes, we can make to support ourselves in everyday life, this felt like a particularly timely book. We are all living increasingly busy lives, and finding simple ways to slow down and create moments of calm can be surprisingly difficult. The idea that something as accessible as sound could become part of that process is intriguing.
More than just listening to music
Cooper, founder of the British Academy of Sound Therapy, brings together her own experiences, research and practical techniques to explore the relationship between sound, the nervous system and wellbeing.
What I particularly liked is that this isn’t a book that simply tells you that a particular piece of music will make you feel better. Instead, it encourages you to become more aware of your own responses to different sounds.
There is something wonderfully simple about that approach.
Think about the sound of waves, birdsong or rain. For many of us, these sounds immediately create a sense of calm. Conversely, the persistent noise of traffic, a loud television or even the ping of constant notifications can leave us feeling tense without necessarily realising why.
Cooper explores why sound can have such an effect and how we can become more intentional about the sounds we allow into our lives.
A book you can actually use
One of the strengths of The Healing Power of Sound is its practical nature. Alongside the research and explanations, there are more than 40 exercises to try, including nature-based meditations and simple vocal practices.
I particularly enjoyed this aspect because it turns the book from something you simply read into something you can experience.
Some of the exercises encourage you to listen differently, while others involve using your own voice. This may sound slightly unusual initially, but Cooper makes the techniques approachable rather than intimidating. You don’t need expensive equipment, a dedicated meditation room or lots of spare time. The emphasis is very much on discovering what works for you.
And perhaps that is the most appealing part of the book: sound is available to all of us.
Finding calm in a noisy world
We often talk about creating a calmer environment through candles, essential oils, meditation, exercise or spending time in nature. Sound is perhaps less frequently considered, despite being around us constantly.
The book made me think about my own environment differently. What sounds do I find calming? Which ones make me feel stressed? Do I automatically reach for music when I need to concentrate, and does the type of music I choose actually help? Could I use sound more deliberately when I need to wind down at the end of the day?
It also feels particularly relevant at a time when wellness has become less about grand gestures and more about incorporating small, manageable rituals into everyday life.
My verdict
The Healing Power of Sound is an engaging and beautifully considered guide for anyone interested in exploring a different approach to wellbeing. I enjoyed the balance between the science and the practical exercises, and I particularly liked the encouragement to experiment rather than simply follow a prescribed formula.
You don’t have to be a sound therapy convert to enjoy this book. In fact, I think it works particularly well if you approach it with an open mind and a little curiosity.
For me, one of the biggest takeaways was simply to listen more. We are surrounded by sound every day, yet we rarely stop to consider its effect on us.
Perhaps the healing power of sound isn’t about finding one magical sound that makes everything better. Perhaps it is about becoming more aware of what we hear, how it makes us feel, and learning to choose the sounds that help us create the environment we need.
And in a world that can sometimes feel very noisy indeed, that seems like a rather valuable lesson.
The Healing Power of Sound: The fundamental therapeutic guide by Lyz Cooper
Published by Leaping Hare Press
Published: 3 September 2026
Hardback & ebook | £20
ISBN: 9781805702696
Lilly Light