Lisa Wynn
It was during an Ignatian Retreat in Daily Life in 2011 that I realized my life mission was to create sanctuary for all to find God’s rest, peace, comfort and healing. One way I fulfill that mission is by providing a peaceful, comforting and healing presence through music. As my focus in music changed from music-as-performance to music-as-service, I was led to start a Women’s Singing Circle at Conversations. This evolved into what it is today, the SpiritSong Threshold Singers.
As a hospice chaplain, I provide bedside harp for patients, and I also play harp for meditative experiences such as Taizé services, labyrinth walks and retreats. I am a Certified Clinical Musician and Vibroacoustic Harp Therapy (VAHT) practitioner and offer VAHT treatments at Conversations by appointment. You can find out more about VAHT here. My Ignatian experience also led me to become a trained spiritual director and licensed minister, so the other way I fulfill my mission is through offering spiritual direction at Conversations, by appointment.
In addition to the above training, I hold a Bachelor’s and a Master’s Degree. After retiring from 30+ years in the healthcare field, my focus is now on fulfilling my mission of creating sanctuary through music and spiritual direction.
Appointments may be scheduled by emailing LJWynn@cox.net or calling me at 405-608-0698. All services are by suggested donation.
VIBROACOUSTIC HARP THERAPY
Vibroacoustic Harp Therapy(R) (VAHT) works by vibrating and resonating with the tissues of the body, thereby affecting physiological processes. It also affects the mental, emotional and energetic or spiritual aspects of the individual. The harp’s wide range of frequencies and overtones are capable of vibrating the dense, physical body as well as its energetic counterpart, providing multi-level stimulation and harmonization. The harp is made of natural materials that resonate with the human body. There is an obvious benefit when one is in the presence of a harp. The natural, aesthetic beauty of the form of the instrument, and its production of warm, full-frequency analog musical information dramatically contrasts with the sterile feel of a CD player with its digitized, recorded music.
VAHT is often described as a musical massage. During a VAHT session, live harp music is amplified through a sound table, chair or vibrotactile device. Clients are asked to focus on areas of tension/pain in the body, while specific tones that resonate in those areas are identified. Each client experiences the musical tones in different ways at different times; therefore the therapy is a very dynamic process and is tailored to the unique individual. Appropriate music is improvised or selected, based on the client’s needs. When the client is relaxed, abstract thinking slows and awareness expands. VAHT often produces responses such as deep relaxation, dream-like imagery, pain and tension reduction, increased energy, increased body awareness, and feelings of being nurtured. Imagery often provides new awareness, positive reframing and/or processing and integration of psychological material. The client/therapist interaction allows for immediate responses in the course of the session.
A client’s response to VAHT could also include:
- Coherence (resonance and entrainment/synchronization among diverse physiological systems in the body)
- Absorption of energy
- Stimulation / Balancing of Ch'i energy
- Lymphatic stimulation
- Pain and stress reduction (from neuro-endocrine changes; interrupted impulse transmission along pain pathways; increase in low alpha brainwave activity; muscular relaxation; decreased blood pressure, heart rate and respiratory rate)
- Perceptual changes (i.e. synaesthesia)
- Mood elevation VAHT is a non-pharmacological approach to treating pain, stress and anxiety and has virtually no side-effects.
The level of receptivity of the client can affect the outcome of the session, as is the case with most interventions. During the usual 30 to 60-minute sessions, clients generally note significant symptom reduction within the first 20 minutes of the session. Lisa Wynn is a certified Clinical Musician and certified vibroacoustic harp therapist.
Please call 405-608-0698 for more information or to schedule an appointment.