Meet Kate Chisholm | Sound Practitioner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kate Chisholm and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kate, how do you think about risk?
Risk is involved in every decision we make and in my mind, it’s just another word for uncertainty, which is unavoidable. Even when we think there is a certain pay off, life can have a wild way of reminding us that there is no such thing as a sure thing. In my life and career, that’s exactly why I feel comfortable and even compelled to take risks and try new things- almost nothing works out the way we imagined it would, and some things work out even better than we could have anticipated, or they unfold in a way that leads us down a beautiful path that we couldn’t have seen coming. Life has thrown me a lot of curve balls, which is a big reason why I ended up working with sound healing. Being a person who thrives on new challenges and the joy of creating and bringing ideas to life, I like to think that risk and I have a good relationship and I think of it more as a part of life instead of something to fear. It may not always work out the way we hoped, but it can open many doors nonetheless.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Enduring trauma and learning how to continue to navigate life was extremely difficult for me, but ultimately led me to this practice. Sound healing and similar practices were so helpful to me that I wanted to learn how to do it and share this with others. I’ve always been a naturally curious learner, so when I love something, I try to learn all about it and this practice happens to be something I love to do and share as well. I have a doctorate in Public Health and assumed that would be the most helpful thing in my career. I did not expect to endure sexual violence while enrolled in that program that would derail my life for a significant amount of time, but that’s unfortunately what happened. It’s been a long journey learning how to adapt to life after that and everything that happened. Sound healing became a huge part of my personal journey forward, so for me, ensuring I have a trauma-informed practice is the most important thing and creating offerings that focus on healing trauma are crucial. When people come to my events, I am mindful of explaining everything, letting them know what to expect, and respecting any boundaries they may have, giving options, and just letting them know the experience is theirs and they can do whatever they need to be comfortable. Every event I plan is done with care and intention from the instruments I play to the notes I utilize. You never know what someone is going through to come to a healing event, but wherever they are on their journey, they deserve to feel safe and in control of their pathway.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
There is so much to do in the Phoenix area! Wonderspaces is always a hit for an indoor activity. For the athletically inclined, hiking Tom’s Thumb is great and a little quieter than Camelback Mountain, and for those who love a view but don’t love the possibility of snakes, the Desert Botanical Garden or the Hole in the Wall at Papago Park are a must. Kayaking in Tempe Town Lake for sunset is always a beautiful time. I’m in the East valley, so AZ/88 and Night Owl are some of my go-to spots. For a fun thrift moment, Discover Mercantile is absolutely amazing. Hot Yoga University is perfect for a hot yoga class. Abundant Space has the most incredible and unique event calendar and every event I’ve ever been to there has been phenomenal. I also love Bachata Addiction’s Salsa/bachata Thursdays at Dave and Busters in Tempe, and anywhere with a pool over the weekend. So many options!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My mom is amazing and deserves all the credit and recognition in the world. She’s amazing in all that she does, and her encouragement is genuinely unmatched. She has supported me in this endeavor in more ways than I can count and my gratitude is eternal. The International Sound Healing Academy, particularly Adrienne, are incredible teachers and healers who have guided me and taught me so much. I wouldn’t be here without them.

Website: https://Www.desertharmonysound.com

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