Music Therapy Fact Sheet:
- Music has been found to activate the release of mood stabilizing neurotransmitters in the brain, and can therefore lead to mood improvement, relaxation, release of anger, and create a sense of well being (Levitin, 2006).
- Engaging in group music making has been found to activate the release of the neurotransmitter responsible for bonding people together (oxytocin), and can therefore assist with social skills (Levitin, 2006). According to Yalom (2005), when individuals in a group feel like they relate to one another, they also feel that their group therapy is more successful.
- Learning to play an instrument has been proven to teach self-discipline, listening skills, mindfulness, and improve self-esteem.
- Music activates the entire brain. There are few activities that require more of the brain than playing music. This picture shows all the areas in the brain activated when one plays an instrument. For those who are working on trauma, playing an instrument can be very helpful for overcoming symptoms of PTSD and moving information across both hemispheres of the brain. Go here to read more.
- Music can be a “safe place” to go, or a “container” in which you can place your troubles. This is considered a form of “externalization.” Allow the music to hold you and/or your troubles.
- Playing music is often described as “fun” or “relaxing.”
- Music Therapy is not only working through issues, but actively teaching and engaging in techniques for skill building in the areas of positive coping, distress tolerance, self-soothing, anger or mood management, impulse control, positive and/or objective thinking, mindfulness, self-awareness, and self-monitoring.
- Music provides for sublimation. This is a fancy word for “acting out” in a positive and constructive way.
- Many have said that making music is a great “release.”
- If you are uncomfortable in music therapy, this is a perfect opportunity to expand your comfort zone. Whenever you go outside your comfort zone you are opening new door in your brain by creating new neural pathways. Any time we do this we open up the opportunity for some other epiphany to walk in.
Hanser, S. (1999). The New Music Therapist’s Handbook. Berklee Press: Boston, MA.
Levitin, D. (2006). This is Your Brain on Music. Penguin Books LTD: London, England.
Yalom, I. (2005). The theory and practice of group psychotherapy. Basic Books: New York, NY.
