Music Therapy
Music therapy is defined by the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA) as “the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional who has completed an approved music therapy program.” Music interventions for improved mental health can include receptive music listening, songwriting, lyric analysis, or music-led relaxation exercises.
By incorporating music interventions into the counseling session, clients may experience:
- Improved lower cortisol levels leading to decreased anxiety
- Increased dopamine production that can improve motivation and positive associations
- Improved connection within the therapeutic relationship
- Reduction in “fight-or-flight” sensations by improving regulation within the nervous system
- Improved grounding and behavior cues through setting coping strategies to music
- The ability to express emotion or stress in non-verbal, creative ways, decreasing the need for the “right words”
For more information on music therapy, you can visit musictherapy.org, or email krystal@leccinc.org with any questions you may have!
Thoma, M. V., La Marca, R., Brönnimann, R., Finkel, L., Ehlert, U., & Nater, U. M. (2013). The effect of music on the human stress response.PloS one,8(8), e70156. https://doi.org/10.1371/