Update #1: Licensed Professional Counselor begins offering ASMR Counseling Sessions

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Curt Ramsey is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Virginia beginning his journey of offering ASMR counseling via in-person visits and live video sessions.

He has an ASMR counseling website and an ASMR video channel.

In the prior post (Nov 10, 2020), Curt shared how he learned about ASMR, his earliest memories of ASMR, his investigations into learning about ASMR, the development of his ASMR practice, and his experiences so far with ASMR counseling.

In this update, Curt shares some challenges and successes he has encountered as he continues his journey into ASMR counseling.

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Founder of ezASMR.com shares 7 Tips for recording ASMR videos

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Steven Smith is the founder of the website, ezASMR.com.

He created the website to help creators of ASMR videos to better understand ASMR, select appropriate equipment, produce better videos, and do it all in an “ez” way.

Steven has put together several tips for recording ASMR videos. These tips should be helpful to all creators of ASMR videos and especially to those who are just starting out.

Below are his Seven Tips to record ASMR videos along with a link to his website.

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Undergraduate student completes research dissertation about ASMR and mood

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Georgina Susan Pamela Terzza has recently completed her  BSc in Psychology at the University of Lincoln, England.  She is now pursuing her MSc in Clinical Psychology at the Royal Holloway University of London, England.

For her Bachelor’s Dissertation,  supervised by Dr. Andy Benn, she completed a research project titled, “The effects and benefits of ASMR stimuli on mood.”

For her project, 37 participants (with and without experience watching ASMR videos) watched ASMR videos and completed a survey about their mood.   She found that ASMR videos had a positive effect on mood, and this was independent of prior experience with ASMR videos.

In my interview with Georgina, she provides helpful explanations of her inspiration, goals, methods, findings, interesting moments, and very useful tips for other students researching ASMR.

Below are my questions in bold, her replies in italics, and a link so you can learn more about her.

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Licensed Professional Counselor begins offering ASMR Counseling Sessions

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Curt Ramsey has a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Virginia Tech University and a Masters Degree in Marriage and Family Counseling from the College of William and Mary in Virginia.

Curt is currently a Licensed Professional Counselor in Virginia beginning his journey of offering ASMR counseling via in-person visits and live video sessions.

Almost a year ago he reached out to me with a strong interest in incorporating ASMR into his practice.  We discussed the great potential of ASMR counseling and I have watched his knowledge and belief in the benefits of ASMR deepen over time.

Curt has expanded his counseling website to offer ASMR counseling sessions to help those struggling with stress, anxiety, self-esteem, intimacy, connection, and trust.    His incorporation of ASMR-inspired techniques includes gentle whispering with clients, gentle whispering between couples, and incorporating  ASMR triggers into mindfulness exercises and guided imageries.

You can visit his ASMR Counseling website HERE.

He has also launched a video channel to allow potential clients to experience his ASMR counseling style through free recorded videos.  These videos demonstrate that Curt not only has a deep understanding of ASMR that can benefit his clients, but he also has a kind and gentle personality that embodies ASMR.

You can view his ASMR videos HERE.

I’ve asked Curt to share his journey so far.  In the section below you will find out how he learned about ASMR, his earliest memories of ASMR, his investigations into learning about ASMR, the development of his ASMR practice, and his experiences so far with ASMR counseling.

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ASMR Research needs your support

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It is likely that ASMR has health benefits for people struggling with stress, poor sleep, low moods, and other conditions.

Perhaps you have benefited from ASMR and wonder why more health professionals aren’t advocating ASMR to their clients and patients?

The answer is simple.  Health professionals are waiting for more research studies about ASMR to be published and you can help.  Even though you may not be a researcher, you can help to accelerate ASMR research by supporting it.

You may have heard that ASMR can reduce your heart rate.  This groundbreaking research was done by Dr. Giulia Poerio and her team at the University of Essex, UK – providing the first direct physiological evidence of the relaxing effects of ASMR.

Now, Dr. Poerio and her team want to establish an  ASMR network of scientists, experts, and the ASMR community.  This project will create a prioritized list of ASMR research questions that will drive future core research about the biology and health effects of ASMR.

Establishing this ASMR Network does require a small foundation of financial support to get it going, and you can help.

Ready to help? Jump right to this site to learn more, watch a video from Dr. Poerio, and/or donate:  https://crowd.science/campaigns/asmrnet-establishing-a-global-research-network-and-prioritised-agenda-for-asmr/

Or, keep reading for a personal message from Dr. Poerio.

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The ASMR artist Nicola Passey shares 10 Tips she learned creating videos for her “Be Brave Be You ASMR” YouTube Channel

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Nicola Passey lives in Staffordshire, UK, and has a  Level 3 Diploma in Holistic Therapies, a Level 3 Diploma in Anatomy and Psychology, and a Level 2 Diploma in Beauty Therapy.

Nicola is also an ASMR artist creating videos for her “Be Brave Be You ASMR” channel on YouTube and has over 53,000 subscribers.

She started creating ASMR videos in January 2019 and has already produced over 230  videos.  Nicola initially started with audio-only content and then gradually progressed to being on camera.  Her videos include a variety of content with a focus on medical and spa roleplays.

Along this journey, Nicola has learned many tricks and tips that improved herself as an ASMR artist, improved the quality of her ASMR videos, and improved the experience for the viewers of her videos.

Below are her Ten Tips for new ASMR video artists along with links to her “Be Brave Be You ASMR” YouTube channel and other platforms.

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Meet Zoey (and her mom), the 7-year old ASMR artist on the “Best Day Ever ASMR” YouTube Channel

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The “Best Day Ever” YouTube channel was started in 2013, which is also the birth year of the current star of the channel, 7-year old Zoey.

Perhaps Zoey’s mother, Penny, started the channel that year in hopes of capturing and sharing family moments.  Sure enough, the early videos on the channel are happy and jovial family moments of their times in Georgia, U.S..

Early this year in 2020, 7-year old Zoey began creating ASMR videos, and the channel is now called “Best Day Ever ASMR.”    The video channel has grown quickly with 14,000 subscribers and 56 well-produced, deeply relaxing, whimsical, fun, and colorful ASMR videos starring 7-year old Zoey.

I interviewed Zoey and her mom  Penny to find out more about their channel.   Penny shares how Zoey became inspired to create ASMR videos, how both parents help her to create the videos, how they optimize her personal safety, and how they guide her to make age-appropriate content.    Zoey shares why she likes to create ASMR videos, if she experiences ASMR, and shares 3 tips for other young creators of ASMR videos.

Below are my questions in bold, their replies in italics, and a link to the “Best Day Ever ASMR” YouTube channel.

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Participate in a research study about ASMR and emotional, sensory, and perceptual experiences

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Angelica Succi is a post-graduate Erasmus trainee at the University of Essex (UK), Department of Psychology.

She is investigating the correlations between emotional experiences, sensory sensitivity, perception, and ASMR.

Her research project is titled: “Physiological and self-reported correlates of Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR)”.

Angelica’s advisors for the study are Dr. Helge Gillmeister and Dr Giulia Poerio.  Dr Poerio published the first heart rate study about ASMR in 2018.

Angelica is looking for participants to take her online survey, which has been reviewed and approved by the Ethics Committee of the University of Essex.

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Participate in a pilot research survey about ASMR, anxiety, and pain

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Josephine Flockton is a master’s graduate, specializing in neuroscience and neuroimaging from the University of York, England, and is pursuing a PhD in cognitive neuroscience.

This survey will gather invaluable pilot data about individuals’ experiences of ASMR and its potential therapeutic benefits, to support the rationale of her PhD research and invite further study.

Her PhD research thesis aims to be the first to explore what happens in the brain during an ASMR experience using the neuroimaging technique of magnetoencephalography (MEG), to further our understanding of the phenomenon and its relation to pain circuits in the brain.

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Participate in a research study about ASMR, Synaesthesia, and Frisson

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Gina Gilpin is a graduate student, pursuing an MSc in Cognitive Neuroscience at University College London (UCL), England.

Her research thesis is investigating the personality and empathy traits of individuals who experience ASMR, frisson (e.g., music chills) and mirror-touch synaesthesia.

Her thesis is titled: “Investigating Various Atypical Multisensory Experiences and the Associated Personality and Empathy Traits.”  Gina’s faculty advisor for the study is Professor Sophie Scott, Director of the Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience at UCL.

Gina is looking for participants to take her online survey, which has been reviewed and approved by an Ethics Committee.  The only requirements for the survey are that you must be right-handed, English speaking, and over 18 years old.

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