ASMR Health

Hushaway – a new platform helping neurodivergent children via ASMR triggers and other sounds

/ Dr. Richard / Leave a comment

HushAway is a gentle sound-based wellbeing platform that helps children, especially those who are neurodivergent, anxious, or emotionally overwhelmed, find peace, focus, and emotional safety.

The platform is using ASMR triggers, Solfeggio frequencies, binaural beats, & soothing narration to support emotional regulation for all children.

A little backstory from the founder, Nicola Maria Rose (Nikki),

“HushAway® began because I kept meeting overwhelmed parents and exhausted children with big feelings that had nowhere to land. I wanted to create a soft place, a ‘Sanctuary of Sound’, to help them feel a little safer in their bodies, drift into sleep more easily, and find their way back to themselves after a hard day.”

The concept and goals of the founder and this project were so compelling that I joined their team.

The founder has also announced the official launch of the platform today, along with great things on the horizon,

“The full HushAway® Sound Sanctuary, with 400+ stories, soundscapes and affirmations, is coming soon. If you’d like to be first to hear when it opens, there’s an invitation list on the site you can join. “

Click the link below to learn more about the Hushaway platform, soundscapes, team, and goals.

Continue reading →

How much research has been done on ASMR?

/ Dr. Richard / Leave a comment

You have probably heard that experiencing ASMR is helpful for sleeplessness and insomnia, helpful for reducing stress and anxiety, and can reduce heart rate and blood pressure.

But how many published research studies support these claims?

Would you be surprised if I said there are over 100 published research studies about ASMR?  Perhaps so, and it isn’t your fault.

Many mainstream reports about ASMR have a statement similar to this, “Although ASMR is a global phenomenon, very little research has been done on this sensation.”

This statement is accurate, but it is also inaccurate.

Let me explain.

It is accurate if you interpret the statement to imply, “Very little research has been done on ASMR compared to the amount of research done on other health topics such as happiness, depression, love, migraines, diabetes, strength training, hypertension, memory, etc.”

Most common health topics have at least a thousand peer-reviewed research studies.  This is simply due to these topics being well-known for decades, centuries, or longer.

The global awareness of ASMR started in 2007, the term “ASMR” was coined in 2010, and the first peer-reviewed research study was published in 2015.

In short, ASMR is a new field of study, so it makes sense that it has not been as studied as many other health-related topics.

So let’s get to the critical question.

How many research studies have been done on ASMR?

The answer is somewhere between 100 and 2000.  Below is a full explanation with helpful links.

Continue reading →

Update #3: Licensed Professional Counselor continues to offer ASMR Counseling Sessions

/ Dr. Richard / Leave a comment

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.

This is my 3rd update as I continue sharing Curt’s pioneering journey as a practitioner of ASMR counseling (First post Nov 10, 2020, Update #1, Update #2)

In this update, Curt shares his experiences and perspectives about recorded ASMR sessions, live ASMR sessions/performances, ASMR counseling, ASMR spas, and ASMR therapy via apps.

Continue reading →

ASMR Project looking for participants with Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities (PMLD)

/ Dr. Richard / Leave a comment

Concrete Youth is a theatre company in the UK, providing multi-sensory theatre and education for people with profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD).

Starting today, they are accepting registrations for their ASMR research project from caretakers, and teachers of individuals with profound and multiple learning disabilities.

More details and a registration link follow.

Continue reading →

Update #2: Licensed Professional Counselor begins offering ASMR Counseling Sessions

/ Dr. Richard / Leave a comment

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 first 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 update #1 (Dec 14, 2020), Curt shared some challenges and successes he has encountered as he continues his journey into ASMR counseling.

In this update, Curt describes an ASMR counseling session with an ASMR artist and also begins a comparison of direct and indirect forms of therapeutic ASMR.

Continue reading →

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

/ Dr. Richard / 1 Comment

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.

Continue reading →

Licensed Professional Counselor begins offering ASMR Counseling Sessions

/ Dr. Richard / 2 Comments

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.

Continue reading →

ASMR artist to talk about surviving narcissistic abuse and the benefits of ASMR at Sept 28 2019 conference in the UK

/ Dr. Richard / Leave a comment

Snetha Badhan is a British Indian living in the United Kingdom, a  certified Person-Centred Counsellor, and the ASMR artist known as CoconutsWhisper on YouTube.

Snetha is also a survivor of Honour Based Violence, Forced Marriages, Gender Abuse, Discrimination, Immigration Fraud and an Admin in the Surviving the Narcissistic Ex Partner Closed Group UK /Worldwide on Facebook.

On September 28, 2019 she will speak  at the conference, “SURVIVE AND THRIVE AFTER NARCISSISTIC ABUSE”  which can be attended live at Manchester, UK or via an online webinar.  Here is a summary of the event:

“A day of key industry expert speakers on who will advise on how to overcome and combat abuse, how a Narcissists mind works and recovery and survival techniques. There will also be real survivors talking about their recovery and how they have managed to overcome and walk away from the ex Narcissist. You will have the opportunity to take part in a question and answer session, talk to other victims and to meet other like minded women who have gone through the same traumatic experiences as yourself!”

In my interview with Snetha she shares how narcissism has impacted her life, how ASMR has helped her, and important information about narcissistic abuse and the upcoming conference.

Below are my questions in bold, Snetha’s replies in italics, and links to learn more about   the upcoming conference.

Continue reading →

Renee Frances publishes the first ASMR-inspired children’s book

/ Dr. Richard / 1 Comment

ASMR Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response UniversityRenee Frances is a children’s book author who has written the first children’s picture book to incorporate ASMR, titled “Avery Sleeps More Readily: A whispered Good Night Fairy book.”

Incorporating ASMR triggers into the content and process of reading a child a bedtime story is a fantastic idea.   Common ASMR triggers like personal attention, whispering, soft voices, light touch, picture tracing, gentle hand movements, page turning, and caring behaviors are typical stimuli that can occur when a parent or caretaker reads a child a bedtime story.

It is even possible that the origins of ASMR are rooted in most caring behaviors that happen between children and their caretakers.  Renee’s book not only reminds readers about incorporating these soothing behaviors at bedtime, but provides optimal techniques and content to help readers lull a child to sleep with a bedtime story.

The illustrations are beautifully done by Romaine Tacey and I was provided the great honor of writing the foreword.  The book will be available on Amazon on August 8, 2018, but in the meantime you can access a digital copy via the link at the end of this article.

Continue reading →