Research & Citations

The science behind the room.

Primary sources for the claims you'll see across this site and in the journal, breathwork, sound therapy, polyvagal theory, parts work, EMDR, hypnotherapy. Peer-reviewed where peer-reviewed exists.

Breathwork

Cyclic sighing & respiratory regulation.

Breathwork, peer-reviewed

  1. 2023
    Brief structured respiration practices enhance mood and reduce physiological arousal
    Balban, M. Y., Neri, E., Kogon, M. M., Weed, L., Nouriani, B., Jo, B., Holl, G., Zeitzer, J. M., Spiegel, D., Huberman, A. D.
    Cell Reports Medicine, 4(1), 100895
    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xcrm.2022.100895
    Stanford / Huberman Lab. Cyclic sighing (double inhale, extended exhale) outperformed mindfulness meditation for daily mood improvement and HRV.
  2. 2023
    Effect of breathwork on stress and mental health: A meta-analysis of randomised-controlled trials
    Fincham, G. W., Strauss, C., Montero-Marin, J., Cavanagh, K.
    Scientific Reports, 13, 432
    https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-27247-y
  3. 2015
    Self-regulation of breathing as a primary treatment for anxiety
    Jerath, R., Crawford, M. W., Barnes, V. A., Harden, K.
    Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback, 40(2), 107-115
    https://doi.org/10.1007/s10484-015-9279-8

Sound Therapy

Singing bowls, intervals, nitric oxide.

Sound therapy & harmonic intervals

  1. 2017
    Effects of singing bowl sound meditation on mood, tension, and well-being: An observational study
    Goldsby, T. L., Goldsby, M. E., McWalters, M., Mills, P. J.
    Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine, 22(3), 401-406
    https://doi.org/10.1177/2156587216668109
  2. 2008
    Music, the Vagal Pathway and the Heart: A Closer Look
    Stefano, G. B., Beaulieu, J.
    Medical Science Monitor, 14(7), HY13: HY18
    Discusses harmonic intervals (perfect fifth, 3:2 ratio) and endothelial nitric oxide release, physiological mechanism behind tuning-fork and bowl pairings.
  3. 2010
    Music as medicine: The impact of healing harmonies
    Beaulieu, J.
    BioSonic Enterprises (clinical practitioner reference)

Polyvagal & Somatic Trauma

Porges · van der Kolk.

Polyvagal & somatic trauma

  1. 2011
    The Polyvagal Theory: Neurophysiological foundations of emotions, attachment, communication, and self-regulation
    Porges, S. W.
    W. W. Norton
  2. 2018
    Polyvagal Theory: A primer
    Porges, S. W.
    In Clinical Applications of the Polyvagal Theory (Porges & Dana, Eds.), W. W. Norton
  3. 2014
    The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma
    van der Kolk, B. A.
    Viking

Parts Work

IFS & somatic parts integration.

Internal Family Systems & somatic parts

  1. 2021
    No Bad Parts: Healing Trauma and Restoring Wholeness with the Internal Family Systems Model
    Schwartz, R. C.
    Sounds True
  2. 2020
    Internal Family Systems Therapy (2nd ed.)
    Schwartz, R. C., Sweezy, M.
    Guilford Press
  3. 2020
    Somatic Internal Family Systems Therapy: Awareness, Breath, Resonance, Movement, and Touch in Practice
    McConnell, S.
    North Atlantic Books

EMDR

Bilateral processing.

EMDR & somatic EMDR

  1. 2018
    Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy: Basic Principles, Protocols, and Procedures (3rd ed.)
    Shapiro, F.
    Guilford Press
  2. 2018
    EMDR Therapy and Somatic Psychology: Interventions to Enhance Embodiment in Trauma Treatment
    Schwartz, A., Maiberger, B.
    W. W. Norton

Hypnotherapy

Krasner-trained lineage.

Clinical hypnotherapy

  1. 1991
    Clinical Hypnotherapy
    Krasner, A. M.
    American Board of Hypnotherapy Press
  2. 2004
    Trance and Treatment: Clinical Uses of Hypnosis (2nd ed.)
    Spiegel, H., Spiegel, D.
    American Psychiatric Publishing
A note on citation practice

Every load-bearing scientific claim on this site, in journal posts, on program pages, in the Soundbath Haven and Breakthrough Breathwork®: The NeuroSomatic Approach training materials, traces back to a source listed here. When a claim is mechanistic ("the long exhale recruits the vagal brake"), it's grounded in Porges or Balban. When a claim is clinical ("parts aren't pathology"), it's grounded in Schwartz. Press, journalists, and practitioners are welcome to verify directly.

Press Kit →Journal →