The music you listen to is the soundtrack of your life that carries you through the good and bad times. Maybe you remember laying on your bed listening to love songs after a breakup. Perhaps you feel energized to work out like Rocky when you hear “Eye of the Tiger.” Moreover, music has been used as a tool for healing in multiple cultures around the globe. Therefore, therapeutic practices like music therapy can support healing in recovery.
Furthermore, at The Guest House, we know there is a deep connection between the mind, body, and spirit. Thus, we are committed to healing clients through holistic approaches that treat the whole person.
What Is Music Therapy?
According to an article from Brain, Behavior, & Immunity: Health, music therapy is the use of music within a therapeutic relationship that uses music interventions to address therapeutic needs and goals in recovery. In particular, music therapy relies on the therapeutic process of connection between you and your therapist. Working in collaboration with your therapist allows you to tailor a music experience that makes sense for you. Moreover, music therapy is a creative arts therapy that dismantles the barriers to expression and connection that can be impeded by co-occurring disorders.
Music and Mental Health
As noted in an article from the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, music can support the development of positive processes like feelings of hope and connection. Through positive processes, you gain personal and social agency as you engage in music activities with others.
Moreover, some music can support the rumination of maladaptive coping patterns like ruminating thoughts of sadness. However, as stated in Brain, Behavior, & Immunity: Health, music can support a reduction in symptoms of mental health disorders like anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia. All in all, music can impact your mood through music choice and connection through social participation.
Benefits of Music Therapy for Substance Use Disorder
Therefore, the connection between mood and music can be expanded to support your substance use disorder (SUD) recovery. According to an article from the Journal of Addictions Nursing, participating in making music with lyrics and melodies can support deeper awareness of the self in recovery. Creating lyrics and melodies allows you to engage your emotions, discover your motivations, and dismantle barriers to recovery.
Listed below are some examples of music interventions that can support SUD recovery:
- Songwriting
- Analyzing lyrics
- Playing instruments
- Singing
- Drumming
- Movement
Moreover, mental health disorders and SUD can make it difficult to recognize and or express your thoughts and feelings. Therefore, music therapy can be an invaluable intervention for self-expression in recovery.
Healing With Music at the Guest House
At The Guest House, we know your mood is a fundamental part of your mental health as co-occurring disorders can cloud your ability to fully engage with your emotions in a healthy way. Therefore, we offer flexible therapeutic modalities like music therapy to give you tools for self-expression. Specializing in a wide variety of therapeutic and holistic treatments gives you the ability to tailor your treatment to your specific interest and needs.
Co-occurring disorders can make it difficult to express your feelings or connect with others. However, therapeutic modalities like music therapy can cause changes in your mood to support reductions in symptoms from disorders like anxiety and depression. Moreover, participating in making music can help you recognize and express difficult-to-access thoughts and feelings. At The Guest House, we believe music can be utilized as a support tool to help you engage in self-expression for your psychological well-being. Call (855) 483-7800 to learn more.