Sok Hwee Blends Music Therapy and Reiki for Harmony in Healing
- Unique Wisdom
- May 7, 2025
- 4 min read
Updated: Jul 14, 2025
In South Carolina, Tay Sok Hwee has been a pioneer in bringing music therapy to diverse communities. Her work shows how music can transcend words and create deep healing. Sok Hwee’s journey inspires us to see that even unseen bridges — like sound and emotion — can build lasting connection and hope.
Hello, my name is Tay Sok Hwee. I reside in South Carolina, USA, where I work as a board-certified music therapist in hospice care part of the week. I also run a healing arts practice that utilizes modalities such as Reiki, breathwork, and sound therapy.
I came to the U.S. in 2000 as a music therapy student, as this field of study was not available in Singapore at the time. Living abroad has helped me understand both Singapore and the U.S. beyond what is portrayed in movies.
More importantly, being away from my usual environment has helped me understand myself better and appreciate the value that Singapore and my roots have given me. It has made me more grateful to be a Singaporean.
In my early years in the U.S., it was not easy to stay connected to Singapore, as social media and WhatsApp were not readily available. With the introduction of Facebook, I was able to find Singaporeans living nearby.
It felt like a piece of home to speak our language and enjoy the food we grew up with. It was also nice to share our experiences of being Singaporeans living overseas, as we often feel like we are living in two worlds simultaneously.
Following Inner Guidance Toward Growth and Service
Learning to listen to my heart and intuition has been pivotal in my journey. Over the years, I have learned that when something feels true and right for me, my heart responds with joy and ease. I feel a pull toward it, and that pull doesn’t stop until I embark on that learning journey. This was the case for me with music therapy and Reiki.
The practice of Reiki has helped me quiet my mind and block out external noise to hear what my heart truly needs.
In return, it has shown me how I can better serve my community and humanity.
I have learned not to gauge my success by societal milestones but instead by how much inner growth I have experienced.
Honoring the Inner Path Through Vision, Courage, and Connection
Visionary Thinking:
As a child, I always felt the call to contribute to society through a helping profession. My father was a teacher who also practiced Chinese medicine, and my sister became a social worker. I was raised in an environment where giving back to society was seen as meaningful. I have always loved music, so music therapy aligned perfectly with both my passion and my desire to contribute to society. During COVID-19, I stumbled upon Reiki, which has helped me tremendously in my journey. I now teach others to practice it for themselves.
Courage:
Choosing to study overseas was a huge step out of my comfort zone. I had always felt comfortable staying in Singapore and never truly felt the need to leave. However, music therapy was not offered in Singapore, so my only option was to go overseas. Another big step was choosing to move from a full-time position as a hospice music therapist to a part-time role to focus more on my healing arts business. I realized that life is short, and if my heart is calling me to something, I should at least give it a chance. It comes with its challenges, but I have no regrets.
Resilience: Most of my challenges involve trusting myself and my inner guidance. It often requires making decisions that go against societal norms. Learning to stand by what I believe in while approaching it with love, firmness, and compassion toward those close to me who may not always agree with my decisions has been a journey of self-discovery.
Curiosity:
By keeping my heart and mind open, I have opened myself to many opportunities I could never have imagined. I have met incredible people who have become friends, mentors, and teachers. I have realized my own inner capabilities and now help others see theirs. It’s a forever learning process, and I am so grateful. Always stay curious and approach life with a beginner’s mind.
Optimism:
Having a clear vision keeps me grounded and motivated. Knowing where I am headed, without rushing to get there, encourages me to keep going. Supportive family, friends, mentors, and teachers have also helped me stay positive and focused on my vision.
Adaptability:
Expecting the unexpected is now part of my mantra. Sometimes, what we don’t expect turns out to be exactly what we needed. Learning not to be attached to stories we’ve held onto for so long has helped me grow personally. Leaning into what is for the highest and greatest good for myself and others, and knowing that change is the only constant, has taught me to ebb and flow with change to find inner peace.
Joy:
Knowing that my work makes a difference brings me so much joy. My work also brings me people who constantly humble me and bring me higher knowledge within myself. In that sense, we are all on this journey together, and that brings me so much meaning and purpose.
Collective Strength:
This journey would not have been possible without the many people who have inspired, encouraged, motivated, and assisted me. People who believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself. People who gently and lovingly helped me see where I could improve. People who openly shared their wisdom, experiences, and stories to help me better understand the meaning of life. Family who supported me even when my decisions didn’t always make sense to them. I credit so many people for their part in my life that has brought me to where I am today.
Living with Integrity, Kindness, and Purpose
Comparison is the thief of joy. Never compare your success to someone else’s. There is more to life than material gains.
Always walk with integrity, no matter what you do.
Find your passion and follow it.
Be kind to others, but most importantly, be kind to yourself.
Find meaning and lessons in every experience, even those that feel painful or uncomfortable.
Live every day with love and purpose.
Much love and light.
Stay Connected
You can learn more about my work at www.songtreemusicandwellness.com.