Music Therapy

Music therapy is effective for healing because it targets the areas of the brain that aren’t touched by talk-based therapies. Music therapy is an evidence-based holistic mental health therapy approach. Music has a way of reaching emotions, beliefs, and memories that are difficult to identify or describe verbally. If you find yourself drawn to music as a way of supporting yourself, stuck in the same cycle of patterns and behaviors, wanting to explore your personal identity in a creative way, or have trouble engaging in traditional talk therapy, music therapy may be a good match for you.

Music Therapy vs. Talk Therapy

• Music benefits more parts of the brain at the same time than most other activities in life.
• Music therapy can help clients access their emotions more readily than talk therapy.
• Music therapists use both receptive and creative techniques, such as writing original songs with personal meaning or improvising musical sounds to explore emotional expression.
• Use music to promote relaxation and mindfulness.
• Learn how to play instruments in order to gain new skills such as communication, focused attention, healthy leisure, or coping strategies for depression, anxiety, or addiction recovery.
• Music therapy may help to deepen your awareness and connection to your emotional, spiritual, social, and sensory experiences.
• In addressing substance use and addiction recovery, music can access the same neural pathways in the brain as illicit drugs, meaning that music may give you a natural “high”. Engaging in active music making can help reduce cravings and improve your mood.

You do not need to be a musician or know anything about music to benefit from music therapy. It does not matter WHAT music you listen to but HOW you listen that makes a difference.

Things We Can Do in Music Therapy:

• Songwriting
• Creating playlists
• Discussing your favorite songs
• Learning to play an instrument
• Gender-affirming vocal coaching
• Relaxation guided by music
• Therapeutic sound healing
  

Music therapy experiences are designed to be accessible and adaptive to your unique needs, and can be beneficial for people of all ages and abilities.