We were lucky to catch up with Dr. Tonia Burgess recently and have shared our conversation below.

Dr. Tonia , appreciate you joining us today. How did you get your first job in the field that you practice in today?

Believe it or not, my first client found me just three days after I officially registered Soul Sound Sanctuary by Tonia, LLC. The timing still amazes me. I had just returned from a trip to South Africa in spring 2023, where I’d made a quiet promise to myself: it was time to retire after nearly 37 years in government service.

That summer, I enrolled in a 14-month sound healing training program – drawn in by my own experiences with grief, energy work, and attending a sound bath that profoundly shifted me. I couldn’t explain what happened in that session, but I knew I wanted to explore it further. By December 31, 2023, I felt a clear spiritual nudge to file my LLC paperwork. I listened. And within days, Soul Sound Sanctuary welcomed its very first client.

Now retired from my government career, I’m closing in on two years of running the business full-time. To date, I’ve worked with more than 350+ clients, and I’m deeply grateful for how this new chapter continues to unfold.

Dr. Tonia , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m a California native, a mother, and a grandmother. I hold a doctorate in education (my dissertation has been cited multiple times) and I’m also a published author. Before Soul Sound Sanctuary, I spent nearly four decades advocating for small and disabled veteran-owned businesses interested in contracting with the government sector.

My pivot into sound healing was deeply personal. After losing several close family members in a short span of time, I found myself searching for ways to heal, rest, reset, and renew my strength. That search led me to energy work and sound therapy. The impact was profound and I also noticed that very few people in those rooms looked like me. Once I learned about the benefits of energy work, Reiki, and sound healing, I felt compelled to pursue this path, and that’s how Soul Sound Sanctuary was born. That observation fueled my purpose: to create accessible, inclusive spaces for healing and reflection.

At Soul Sound Sanctuary, my intention and goal is to help clients reclaim their inner peace through Reiki, energy work, and sound healing. Every session is rooted in intention, community, and unconditional love. What sets me apart is not just the techniques but the sacred space I hold, where people can return to themselves with healing, community, clarity, and compassion. I am most proud of my decision to align with my soul’s purpose by using my spiritual gifts of intuition and empathy, providing a place for people to come back to themselves with greater awareness and grace.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Soul Sound Sanctuary by Tonia began in my living room. In the beginning, I was hesitant, even afraid, to share my work publicly and feared rejection. I didn’t have a musical background, and buying expensive sound equipment I didn’t know how to operate was intimidating. But I refused to let insecurity stop me.

I moved forward with determination, trusting the process. I began with the intention and determination to overcome any challenges that arose because I wholeheartedly believed in the effectiveness of this type of sound therapy. Nearly two years later, that leap of faith has taken me to places I never imagined – leading corporate sessions, hosting virtual and in-person sessions for more than 60 people at once, collaborating with schools, organizations, and other wellness practitioners, and building a community around healing. Starting from a place of uncertainty, I now stand rooted in confidence and gratitude.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

The biggest lesson was realizing that not everyone’s opinion of me matters. For years, I craved external validation and built my self-worth based on how others perceived me. It took a lot of effort to let go of the need for approval from people I respected. I realized that I wasn’t holding myself in high regard and that was a mistake to equate external validation with self-worth. If someone I respected approved of me, I felt “enough.” If not, I didn’t.

Through shadow work and energy healing, I discovered that my real barrier wasn’t other people – it was the stories I told myself about what was possible and my own limiting beliefs. Letting go of that need for approval freed me to honor my own voice and intuition. Today, I know that how I show up for myself is just as vital as how I show up for my clients. I confronted the inner critic in my mind that had held me back for far too long and today, I stand firmly in my truth knowing that I am not only “enough”, I am talented, intuitive, and living in my purpose healing others through energy work, sound baths, and reiki with an inclusive and heart-centered approach.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.soul-sound-sanctuary.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soulsoundsanctuary/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/soulsoundsanctuarybytonia
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@soulsoundsanctuarybytonia

Image Credits

All images were created/provided by “Created by (Cha)” – Chardae Baker-Chin