Meet Alex Ballew | Sound Therapist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Alex Ballew and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Alex, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
Work life balance is incredibly important. I used to work as a talent agent where the expectation was to be available at all times. I had to set up boundaries for myself in the form of times and days I would not answer emails and phone calls. I knew that if I didn’t create those boundaries for myself, they would be crossed. These days, as the owner of my own small business, I create my own schedule. I make sure to build in days off and also schedule time for leisure when I do not think about work.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am a sound therapist. My business is called Secret River Sounds. I host group events and also conduct one on one sound therapy sessions. I use a variety of instruments such as tingsha bells, rain sticks, drums, singing bowls and so on. The centerpiece of the practice is the gong. Different events in my life culminated over time and it become clear I was called to work with sound in 2019. I read a book called Gong Therapy by Mehtab Benton and that got a fire burning inside of me. There are a variety of certification programs available, and I chose to start with The Vibrational Sound Association in order to obtain a certification and license. However, this is the first of many trainings and continued education. I do not think starting any small business is easy, but I do think this feels very natural and aligned for me. There is of course the struggle with doubts and fear, but I have done a lot of work and processing to eradicate self limiting beliefs. I have learned that the only person in my way is me. It’s my honor to provide sound as a holistic modality that encourages the body’s natural self healing capabilities and to create a safe space for relaxation, restoration and wellness.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If I had a friend fly into Atlanta for the first time we would have to go eat on the patio at Kimball House in Decatur or order Curbside to go from Spring in Marietta Square. Those are two of my favorite restaurants in the metro area. We might catch a yoga class at Be Yoga in Marietta Square or up in north GA at Yoga and Wellness of Blue Ridge. We’d certainly have to go hiking and camping, so perhaps we’d head up to Mount Mitchell on the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina, or visit one of Georgia’s state parks like Vogel or Black Rock Mountain. . I love the north GA mountains!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d like to dedicate my shoutout to my massage therapist, mentor and friend Alex Stadler. Alex has been a pillar of support in so many forms over the years, and I am so grateful for all the ways he continues to offer guidance, wisdom and love on my journey.

Website: www.secretriversounds.com
Instagram: @secretriversounds
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SecretRiverSounds/
Youtube: Secret River Sounds

Image Credits
Augusta Blair Portraits