Healing Through Music: Depression Music Therapy Benefits And Uses
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Music has been a part of culture since the first human civilizations. It has been used in many ways to tell stories, connect with others, and provide joy. According to the World Health Organization, music is an essential part of art and expression that can allow individuals a greater capacity for empathy.
In modern psychology, music can also be used as a form of therapy, which has been suggested to be beneficial for various mental illnesses and symptoms and in improving quality of life overall, especially in group formats. One category of mental illness that may benefit from music therapy is depressive disorders. If you’re living with depression or symptoms of depression, learning more about the studies behind the effectiveness of depression music therapy can be beneficial. We’ll explore the history and research on music therapy for depression below.
What is depression music therapy?
Music therapy for depression can take several forms, potentially including the following activities led by a licensed music therapist:
Singing
Playing or learning an instrument
Improvised dancing to music
Guided dancing to music
Watching a musician perform
Playing instruments or singing with a group
Music therapy can also be divided into four categories: receptive, compositional, improvisational, and re-creative music therapy. Receptive music therapy is the simplest, which involves listening to music chosen by the provider and responding with thoughts and feelings that may arise in response.
Multiple studies have looked at how music therapy may benefit those with depression specifically. One systematic review published in 2017 suggests that music therapy combined with traditional depression treatment may be more effective than traditional treatment by itself in reducing depressive symptoms.
The history of music therapy
The American Music Therapy Association states that the beginning of therapy with music as a healing practice occurred as far back as the writings of the famous philosophers Aristotle and Plato. As an official profession in the U.S., music therapy began around World War I and World War II to support veterans experiencing trauma after the wars. Music therapy was also historically used to treat physical diseases in the 1800s and has since been used to treat neurological conditions like dementia.
This type of treatment gained the most popularity in the 1900s. In 1903, a woman named Eva Vescellus founded the National Society of Musical Therapeutics, the first national organization for music therapy. However, it wasn’t until the 1930s that music therapy was nationally recognized as a profession when psychiatrist Willem van de Wall used music therapy interventions in state facilities. His work, Music in Institutions, was a pioneering text in helping professionals understand how to use music therapy.
Modern music therapy
In 1998, the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA) was formed to merge the National Association for Music Therapy (NAMT) and the American Association for Music Therapy (AAMT). Another organization that ensures the credibility and training of music therapists is the Certification Board for Music Therapists, which helps trained therapists receive extra credentials for their skills and training in music therapy practice.
To become a music therapist in the US, individuals must earn a bachelor’s degree or higher in music therapy and different music therapy methods from a program approved by the AMTA. Students may learn music composition, music therapy, music theory, and psychology. They may also go through a certain number of hours of fieldwork and supervised experience. Although anyone with this experience may enter the field, music therapists may not be able to offer traditional talk therapy without meeting their state’s requirements for a therapist or counselor license on top of their music therapy license.
Music therapists often do not hold the same credentials as traditional therapists. They may only be able to offer their services through music therapy sessions without offering advice or the same level of care as a traditional therapist. For this reason, many clients have both a music therapist and a traditional therapist.
What are depressive disorders?
There are several depressive disorders in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), including major depressive disorder, postpartum depression, and seasonal affective disorder, among others. People with depression often experience symptoms like the following, per the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition:
A prolonged sad or low mood
A loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities
Difficulty with motivation
Memory loss
Sleep changes
Appetite changes
Feelings of apathy or emotional numbness
The desire to withdraw socially
Difficulty partaking in hygiene habits or daily chores
Irritability
Suicidal thoughts or behaviors
Potential benefits of a music therapy intervention for depression
Below are a few of the most common potential benefits of treating depression with music therapy.
Emotional expression
Major depression can cause periods of apathy, which might involve feeling numb or unable to express emotion. One older, short-term randomised controlled trial suggests that music has significant expressive qualities, allowing people to express emotions under the guidance of a music therapist without talking about them out loud or even understanding them cognitively. Note that psychological research is constantly changing and evolving.
As it can be harmful to your physical and mental health to suppress emotions long-term, a music therapy intervention may be a way to release emotional pain or challenging feelings without overwhelming yourself. This is just one of the potential effects of music therapy.
In addition, many people find music cathartic when they can feel the rhythm in their body and experience it in a sensory way. If you partake in music therapy involving improvised dance or musical creation, you may be able to further experiment with your creativity and expression through the effects of music by following your own rhythm.
More effective coping
Another potential effect of music therapy is the ability to learn coping mechanisms from it. As stress and anxiety are often connected to depression, addressing all three at once can be beneficial. Controlled trials and systematic reviews suggest that active music therapy (versus receptive music therapy) is associated with a more significant ability to cope with stress and tension. As an individual learns to use music as a coping mechanism, they may also feel motivated to try other healthy coping mechanisms for depression.
Building confidence
The music therapy process for treating a depressive disorder may also increase the confidence of those participating. Creating or participating in music can show individuals new skills they may not have been aware of. As they grow their musical abilities, they may feel more able to take control of their emotions, symptoms, and challenges as an additional potential effect of music therapy. One controlled trial suggests that music therapy may be highly effective in improving self-esteem in adults and potentially in children and adolescents as well.
Counseling options for depression
If you’re living with symptoms of depression or have been diagnosed with a depressive disorder, music therapy may be just one type of counseling available to you. Many people choose to partake in a music therapy intervention alongside another form of treatment, like talk therapy with a cognitive behavioral therapistto improve their overall life. However, if you face barriers to attending in-person therapy sessions, like cost, scheduling, or availability, you might try online therapy instead. If you’re looking to get matched and meet with a licensed talk therapist, you might explore BetterHelp as an option.
Online counseling can be as effective as in-person therapy for depression, with studies suggesting that it can even be a more effective treatment for depressive symptoms in some cases. With online therapy, you can meet with your therapist via phone, video call, and/or in-app messaging from anywhere you have an internet connection, making support fit into your everyday life. As depression symptoms can sometimes make it difficult to leave home or have the motivation to attend sessions, an online therapy session can make receiving support more convenient and offer key benefits.
Takeaway
What is the purpose of music therapy in mental health settings?
Music therapy often takes place in outpatient clinics and other care environments to support clients facing mental health issues, from anxiety to trauma. Music therapists use playing instruments and lyric discussion in these settings to foster self‐expression and build communication skills. Music therapists build a strong therapeutic relationship with clients by making music and listening together. In both group and one-on-one settings, music therapists shape each treatment plan to fit individual needs, inviting clients to take an active role in their recovery. Using clinical music therapy methods like guided improvisation may boost cognitive skills and offer a nonverbal way to process feelings. Sessions often include singing or drumming circles to lift mood and support emotional well-being. Over time, regular music therapy sessions can ease anxiety and help sustain overall well-being.
What are the health benefits of music?
Listening to music at home or playing music in a group may lower stress, ease pain, and support physical health by slowing the heart rate and lowering blood pressure. In nursing homes and senior centers, shared musical experiences often boost self-esteem and self-confidence, bringing residents together. For hospitalized patients, a simple favorite song can be a comforting reminder of home and normalcy, reducing perceived pain and speeding recovery from physical ailments. For children, integrating melody into therapy can guide them through transitions and support a child’s development in language and motor coordination. Whether through passive listening or active singing, music has a universal capacity to uplift mood and promote overall physical and emotional well-being for children and adults alike.
What is the aim of music therapy?
Music therapy uses music to reach the goals set in each client’s treatment plan. Music therapists partner with clients to identify strengths and areas for growth, using instrument play or writing music to help them express themselves. Through structured improvisation or precomposed pieces, music therapists guide clients to explore feelings and develop social skills, problem‐solving skills, and increased self‐awareness. In correctional facilities and special‐needs programs, including those for autism spectrum disorder (ASD), these interventions can foster emotional regulation and improve social functioning. Certified music practitioners (MT-BC) may integrate other forms of art for a holistic approach. Ultimately, music therapy experiences aim to empower individuals to manage mental health and physical challenges in a creative way.
What are the uses and benefits of music therapy?
Music therapists work in schools, clinics, and hospitals to offer treatment that can address mental health challenges. They may use playing music or live band activities as an example of therapy. Sessions can teach social skills and help children explore their feelings through sounds and emotions. Over time, regular participation can reduce anxiety, boost self-confidence, and support overall health. Some key benefits of these programs are the chance to connect and socialize with others and enrich a person's life.
What is the main focus of a music therapy session?
A typical music therapy session may focus on a client’s goals in their treatment plan, such as improving cognitive skills, boosting self-esteem, or easing physical pain. Music therapists choose between making music and encouraging reflective listening. Some sessions may use playing instruments to engage the brain and increase motor function and coordination, while others might use singing to improve emotional regulation. The goal is to support emotional well-being with personalized, evidence-based methods.
How is music used in therapy?
Music therapy can be as simple as listening to music or playing instruments. Music therapists often start by asking about musical tastes and then move into creating music activities. Using lyric discussion, clients explore what songs mean to them. Improvisation on percussion may encourage spontaneity and connection. In clinical music therapy, music therapists sometimes add movement or talk to meet goals like clearer speech or less anxiety. They combine art and science to help people heal.
How important is music to human life?
Listening, dancing, or just tapping along shows how life can be enriched by melody and rhythm. Regular exposure to music may support mental health by lowering stress and stabilizing mood. For children, benefits include better coordination and memory, which are helpful in a child’s development. Simple sounds in shared performances can spark joy and relief by engaging emotions. Rhythm and harmony may shape well-being in everyday life.
How does music therapy use music to improve the patient's health?
Music therapists work with each person to provide music therapy that matches their treatment goals. Sessions can involve making music or creating music to unlock expression, while writing music might give clients a new way to process feelings. For example, a songwriting exercise can reveal personal insights and guide growth. This approach can build a trusting therapeutic relationship and support both mental health and physical wellness. Key benefits include a personalized path to healing that fits each person's unique needs.
What are some interesting facts about music therapy?
Many music therapists explore how music supports mental health in hospitals, schools, and communities. Studying mental health outcomes helps refine these programs. For children, sessions may teach cooperation and boost social confidence. Students might learn by example through ensemble practice, which shows how collaboration can spark growth. Research reveals key benefits ranging from pain relief to improved mood. This field demonstrates how art and science can come together to enrich life.
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