When Copying Isn’t a Compliment: Ethics in Sound Therapy Practices

By Rea Tarnava, PhD Candidate

In the rapidly growing fields of sound therapy, frequency medicine, and subtle energy work, creativity and innovation are essential. New methods, protocols, and educational frameworks are what allow this emerging discipline to mature with integrity. However, as sound therapy gains popularity, an important conversation must also take place: ethical practice development and respect for intellectual property.

While inspiration is natural, copying is not collaboration—and in professional practice, it is not a compliment.

Understanding Copyright and Intellectual Property

Copyright law exists to protect original written content, educational materials, course structures, protocols, and branding. This includes website text, course manuals, session descriptions, training frameworks, and proprietary methodologies. When a practitioner copies or closely paraphrases this material without permission or attribution, it constitutes copyright infringement, regardless of intent.

In sound therapy, many practitioners invest years—sometimes decades—developing unique systems rooted in research, clinical observation, and experiential refinement. These bodies of work are not public domain simply because they relate to wellness or energy medicine.

Ethics Beyond the Law

Ethical responsibility extends beyond legal compliance. Ethical practice asks:

• Am I presenting original work or someone else’s ideas as my own?

• Have I properly credited the sources that informed my training or approach?

• Do my website and offerings accurately reflect my scope of education and authorization?

Using another practitioner’s language, protocols, or conceptual frameworks without acknowledgment undermines professional trust and damages the credibility of the field as a whole.

Best Practices for Ethical Development

Ethical sound therapy practitioners:

• Write original website and marketing content in their own voice

• Clearly reference teachers, systems, and lineages that influenced their work

• Obtain written consent before using copyrighted materials

• Distinguish between what they were trained in and what they personally developed

• Cite sources when referencing scientific, educational, or theoretical material

Ethical referencing does not weaken credibility—it strengthens it.

Raising the Standard of the Field

Sound therapy is still earning its place in integrative and clinical spaces. Upholding ethical standards protects not only individual practitioners, but the legitimacy of the profession itself. Integrity, transparency, and respect for intellectual property allow innovation to flourish without exploitation.

True leadership in this field is demonstrated not by imitation, but by original contribution grounded in honesty and respect.