Music as Therapy

Ah, the sweet sounds of music. As a music therapist, I have yet to meet a person who reports a total lack of connection with music. Most all people form and nurture a unique bond with music throughout their lives, from memories of middle school band to the song played during the first dance at their wedding. I often hear people say, “music is my therapy,” and that music even plays a significant role in their mental health. Although your fondness of music may seem unrelated to your wellness goals, it can be used as a tool in developing coping skills geared towards healthy emotional expression.

Music therapy, the use of music-based interventions to address clinical, nonmusical goals, is utilized for a variety of populations, allowing individuals to take steps towards healing and recovery with music as their tool. Music therapy is offered in many mental health settings and is notably effective for clients with low motivation for therapy (Gold et al., 2013). Research demonstrates that music therapy is particularly effective for clients facing mental health concerns, as nearly 20% of music therapists report working in mental health settings (AMTA, 2005). As you consider your goals for yourself in therapy, it may be worth exploring your relationship with music and how it might contribute to becoming the person you desire to be.

Music and the Brain

Have you ever wondered what’s happening inside your head when listening to music? There are numerous ways to unpack this, but let’s first consider what’s going on in your brain. There are different parts of our brain that take in and respond to different stimuli, a certain area dedicated to things we see, another for things we hear, and so on. You may then decide that if we hear music with our ears, the brain must only be responding in the area for stimuli we hear. But think of all that you experience when listening to the song that you shared with an ex-lover, you remember moments or feelings beyond that of just the song. Music can serve as little time capsules to memories and emotions that we might need to revisit throughout our lives. In other words, we feel music with more than just our ears and that is why it can be used as such a useful tool!

It's also important to note that, like word games and mind puzzles, your brain likes to engage with music! There are strong links between music and the reward centers in our brains, particularly related to pleasure responses when playing and/or listening to music (Cheever et al., 2018). When searching for ways to boost your mood, think of ways to immerse yourself in music, whether that’s playing an instrument, creating art to music, or just listening to music and going for a walk. If it feels silly, research shows that there are lasting impacts on the emotional wellbeing of individuals who continue to engage with music throughout their lives (Cheever et al., 2018). Use this accessible, universal means of a pick-me-up for your mind whenever you need it!

Musical Meditation

A common way to integrate music into your wellness practices is to meditate with music. Some prefer to meditate in silence while others find music to be a useful tool in maintaining and achieving a meditative state. When selecting music for meditation, be mindful of qualities like tempo, pitch variations, and timbre. Choose music that will enhance your ability to turn off your mind, not distract your focus on meditation. If you find meditation challenging, you may find guided meditations that utilize music and structure breathwork to the beat of the music to be helpful. Be creative in implementing music into your wellness routines, you may be surprised at how your mind and body respond!

Mindful Musician

Whether you are a concert pianist or an in-the-shower superstar, taking time to invest in your love of music can play an important role in your wellbeing. Many people drift away from their relationship with music as they become consumed by the responsibilities of adult life. Continuing to nurture your creativity contributes to who you are and feeds energy and passion that you just can’t get from sitting at a desk all day.

If you have played an instrument in the past, consider picking it back up, particularly in moments when you’re in need of a release of tension and/or emotion. If you don’t have any musical background but wish you did, there are a variety of resources (some free) that help you through the beginning stages of learning a new musical skill. If playing music isn’t for you, consider other ways to express yourself creatively. Sometimes our body needs to express feelings through means other than words.

Author of Your Song Story

Journaling is a commonly recommended form of expression, as it allows one to get their emotions out of the mind and onto words on paper. For the more musically inclined, taking journal entries a step further and turning your thoughts to music is another excellent way to express yourself in a positive way.

Bringing music into your reflections and journaling can help bring beauty and positive creation to thoughts and emotions that are both uplifting and challenging. If words and writing aren’t necessarily your thing, music allows us to create expressively without needing any words at all! Using your preferred instrument to explore and express your emotions through sound provides the opportunity to feel and create in a way that is authentic to your musical self.

Interested in learning more about music therapy in Roswell and Tucker GA?

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music therapy for anxiety — **About the Author**

Sarah Woolson provides psychotherapy and music therapy for adults, teens, and children in Tucker, Roswell, and online in Georgia. Her specializations include therapy for anxiety, grief, and trauma.

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References

American Music Therapy Association (2005). Music therapy for adults with mental health and substance use conditions. American Music Therapy Association. www.musictherapy.org/research/factsheets/

Cheever, T., Taylor, A., Finkelstein, R., Edwards, E., Thomas, L., Bradt, J., Holochwost, S. J., Johnson, J. K., Limb, C., Patel, A. D., Tottenham, N., Iyengar, S., Rutter, D., Fleming, R.,