A music therapy program uses lyric writing and analysis, improvisation, and other activities to support addiction recovery. Programs of this type are in increasing use at facilities across the U.S. That’s because they’ve been shown to provide significant benefits for many people in treatment. A number of these benefits are related to your mental well-being. The therapy helps improve this aspect of your overall wellness for multiple reasons.
How Music Therapy Works – What Are the Basics?
In one form or another, music plays a big part in many people’s lives. This holds true for those who choose to follow a music-related career path. But it’s also true for countless avid fans and casual listeners.
Music is well-known for its potential impact on your emotional state. A large part of how music therapy works is its ability to harness this impact. Its goal is not improvement of your musicianship and musical ear. Instead, it aims to help you do such things as:
- Communicate nonverbally when you cannot do so verbally
- Explore your own emotions and feelings
- Find a creative outlet for these emotions and feelings
All therapy sessions are conducted by professionals who specialize in providing this form of care. Music therapy won’t replace the primary treatments used in rehab facilities. However, it can work quite well alongside them.
Possible Music Therapy Techniques
Music therapy techniques have been developed over the last few decades. As noted, these techniques include writing and analyzing song lyrics. They also include improvising music on the spot. Other options that may play a role in your specific program include the following:
- Singing songs
- Dancing to music
- Taking part in music appreciation sessions
- Having more detailed discussions about an improvised or structured song
You may also take part in what’s known as structured improvisation. This is the term for improvisations that follow a preset general theme. For example, your therapist may ask you to express certain feelings or moods through improvised music.
Ways in Which Music Therapy Improves Mental Health
How does music therapy support a renewed sense of mental wellness? There is more than one answer to this critical question. Music therapy improves mental health by doing things that include:
- Helping you identify and name your moods and emotions
- Increasing your ability to cope with emotional states that you find unpleasant
- Boosting your self-awareness and self-confidence
- Providing relief from the effects of specific mental health conditions
- Decreasing your sense of isolation from other people
Substantial amounts of evidence and research back these benefits.
Using Music Therapy for Stress Reduction
Research also supports the use of music therapy for stress reduction. This is important because high stress levels can increase your risk for serious mental health issues. They can also help keep those issues alive and unresolved even during your time in treatment. Music therapy is not the same as a formal stress management program. Nevertheless, it can contribute significantly to your feeling relaxed and at ease in daily life.
Find Out More About How Music Therapy Improves Mental Health at Northpoint
Want to learn more about the mental health benefits of music therapy? Talk to the professionals at Northpoint Colorado. We’re happy to explain the many positive effects of this therapy on your mental well-being. We can also explain the well-known physical benefits of music therapy.
Are you interested in adding music therapy to your recovery plan? Northpoint features this kind of therapy among our many options for customized rehab support. For more information on how we use music therapy, call us today at 888.231.1281. You can also complete our brief online message form. We’re here to listen and help you get on the right path.