In a quiet corner of Bakersfield, California, a new center is preparing to offer something more than just yoga or therapy sessions. It's shaping up to be a space where people can explore mental health through the deeply calming practices of sound healing, movement, and community support.

Set to open on June 6, “Place of Preservation” Holistic Family Counseling is the creation of Marasha Miller, a certified sound healing practitioner who turned her personal health journey into a professional mission.

A Personal Turning Point Leads to Purpose

After losing her job in 2023 and receiving a diagnosis of fibromyalgia, Miller found herself searching for relief that traditional therapy couldn’t quite offer. “Teletherapy just wasn’t connecting with me the way I needed,” she shared. “It felt like something was missing—like I needed healing on a deeper level.”

That’s when she discovered sound healing, a form of therapy that relies on frequency and vibration to support emotional and physical balance. It wasn’t just helpful—it was life-changing.

What Is Sound Healing

Instagram | placeofpreservation_inc | Harmonic vibrations from instruments like koshi chimes in sound healing positively affect the nervous system.

Sound healing uses instruments like crystal bowls, wooden mallets, rain sticks, and koshi chimes to create harmonic vibrations that influence the nervous system.

According to Miller, this practice activates the parasympathetic nervous system while quieting the body's fight-or-flight responses.

“The body has a unique response to sound, especially music tuned to 432 hertz,” Miller explained. “At that frequency, the nervous system starts to calm, and the vagus nerve, which connects your gut to your brain, starts to vibrate. That’s when true relaxation happens—it’s like the body is being told it’s safe.”

This deep physiological response, called molecular restructuring, can help ease symptoms of anxiety and promote emotional clarity—something many individuals need when facing mental health struggles.

Creating Space for Mental Health Support

Miller created "Place of Preservation" to offer more than just sound baths. The center features weekly yoga classes and focused support programs for substance use, anger management, and other emotional challenges. It serves as a holistic space built to meet the emotional and psychological needs that standard treatment plans often overlook.

Every offering centers around mental health support. Whether through structured group sessions or individual sound bath experiences, the center aims to foster meaningful healing in a warm, welcoming setting.

For those unfamiliar with sound healing, sessions don’t require prior experience or physical ability. Participants lie back, relax, and allow the sound vibrations to do the work. It’s simple in practice, but deeply effective.

Wellness Tools Everyone Can Use

Freepik | Simple acts such as gentle breathing can help calm your nervous system.

Miller also encourages people to try small, accessible techniques on their own. “Even something like listening to rain sounds or practicing gentle breathing can help regulate your nervous system,” she said. “Mental health doesn’t always require a complex solution. Sometimes, it’s just about learning how to slow down and listen—really listen—to your body.”

This kind of advice reflects her grounded approach. It's not about quick fixes. It's about offering tools and community so people can feel more in control of their own well-being.

Expanding the Conversation Around Mental Health

The timing couldn’t be more relevant. Mental health continues to be a growing concern nationwide, and traditional methods don’t always resonate with everyone. Alternative therapies like sound healing offer an inclusive path forward, especially for those who feel disconnected from clinical options.

By opening a center that embraces both emotional and physical support, Miller is adding a valuable voice to the broader mental health conversation. Her personal story and holistic perspective provide a reminder that healing doesn’t have to be rigid—it can be rhythmic, gentle, and even joyful.

As the "Place of Preservation" prepares to open its doors, it represents more than a new business. It’s a new way of looking at healing—one that listens as much as it speaks.

Whether through the hum of a crystal bowl or the stillness of mindful movement, Miller’s mission is clear: make mental health support approachable, peaceful, and deeply human.