Music therapy how does it work

After weighing these factors along with the treatment goals, the therapist decides to employ either the creative or receptive process. Note that you do not need to have musical abilities to benefit from either process.

The music therapist will ensure that the activities address the needs and abilities of the client! In the creative process , the music therapist works with the client to actively create or produce the music. This may include composing a song, engaging in music or song improvisation, or drumming.

How does music therapy work? Brain study sheds light. Share on Pinterest A new study unravels the brain mechanisms behind the benefits of music therapy.

Discovering important moments. A clear connection. More effective therapy. Exposure to air pollutants may amplify risk for depression in healthy individuals.

Costs associated with obesity may account for 3. Related Coverage. How to treat anxiety naturally. Medically reviewed by Timothy J. Legg, Ph. Music therapy as an adjunct to standard treatment for obsessive compulsive disorder and co-morbid anxiety and depression: A randomized clinical trial.

J Affect Disord. Effectiveness of music therapy: A summary of systematic reviews based on randomized controlled trials of music interventions. Patient Prefer Adherence. Effects of music and music therapy on mood in neurological patients. World J Psychiatry. Prog Brain Res. Effectiveness of group music therapy versus recreational group singing for depressive symptoms of elderly nursing home residents: Pragmatic trial.

Aging Ment Health. Performance of music elevates pain threshold and positive affect: Implications for the evolutionary function of music. Evol Psychol. Making music, making friends: Long-term music therapy with young adults with severe learning disabilities.

J Intellect Disabil. The efficacy of music therapy for people with dementia: A meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.

J Clin Nurs. Music therapy for depression. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. Cognitive behavioural therapy-based music CBT-music group for symptoms of anxiety and depression. Can J Commun Ment Health. Music for insomnia in adults. Fed Pract. Novotney A. Music as medicine. Monitor on Psychology. The role and outcomes of music listening for women in childbirth: An integrative review.

Liu Y, Petrini MA. Effects of music therapy on pain, anxiety, and vital signs in patients after thoracic surgery. Complement Ther Med. The impact of music therapy on anxiety in cancer patients undergoing simulation for radiation therapy. Guidance for music listening programs. Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for VerywellMind. At any time, you can update your settings through the "EU Privacy" link at the bottom of any page.

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They may even take up learning an instrument as a new hobby, which they can use as a tool for improving their mental health and coping with difficult situations throughout their life. There are extra benefits to listening or creating music that talking therapies may not be able to offer. For instance, learning and practicing a piece of music can improve memory skills, coordination, reading, comprehension, and math skills, and it can also give lessons in responsibility and perseverance.

People can also enjoy a great sense of achievement from creating a piece of music, which can help improve their mood and self-esteem. Music therapy can also introduce people to many different cultures, as clients can explore any type and genre of music during therapy. Understanding the history behind a piece of music can help people connect with the music they are hearing or playing. Although self-expression is a part of talking therapy, music therapy allows people to express themselves in a creative way, which can be a more enjoyable way of exploring difficult emotions.

Lyric analysis is another accessible way for people to explore and process difficult emotions, experiences, or memories through music.

For example, a person can find themes and meanings within lyrics and offer alternative lyrics that apply to their life and experiences, which can help them find the words that represent how they are feeling if they are finding it hard to express this themselves. Some of the documented benefits of music therapy include:.

Many studies suggest that music therapy can reduce feelings of anxiety, including in people with cancer , those undergoing surgery, and individuals going into intensive care units. Some studies also suggest that music can reduce blood pressure and the heartbeat, which can have a direct impact on how stressed a person feels. There is also evidence to suggest that those undergoing music therapy experience reduced anxiety immediately after the session, which indicates that music therapy could be a convenient way to reduce symptoms quickly.

Music affects the amount of stress hormones, such as adrenaline and cortisol, that the body releases, and reducing these hormones can help relieve symptoms of anxiety. Studies suggest that music therapy can improve symptoms of depression , with those undergoing music therapy along with standard treatments for depression — such as talking therapy — improving more than people who only received standard therapy. Listening to music can also release dopamine, which is a hormone that makes people feel good, and endorphins, which are hormones that can induce happy moods and relieve pain.

Although music therapy is not a cure for depression, it can offer short-term benefits by improving mood and encouraging connection and self-expression. Some of the benefits of music therapy for children include:. Although music therapy is not a cure for any mental health condition, it can be an effective and enjoyable tool for reducing the symptoms of numerous conditions, including depression and anxiety.