Music Therapy

Music therapy can be a powerful way to cope and overcome challenges you might face during your cancer journey. Find out ways to use it to manage the rhythm of life.

What is music therapy?

Music therapy is the use of music to support you and help you achieve your goals. It’s a type of mind-body therapy that acts on several parts of your brain that promote healing.

Music therapy can support you at any stage of your journey with cancer. Music can connect with your emotions through the lyrics, beat, or melody. It can have a strong impact on you and help with spiritual or mental distress.

Music therapy can be used to help you relax, have better quality of life, and manage pain, anxiety and depression. It can also help manage side effects like sleep problems and cognitive problems by taking your mind off the symptoms or putting you in a calm mood.

Who are certified music therapists?

Music therapy is performed by certified music therapists (MTAs). They have completed clinical hours of supervised training and have studied topics that include psychology, physiology, and counseling. This training helps them choose music that supports healing and fits your therapy goals.

Clinical music therapy

Music therapy under the care of an MTA can vary depending on the purpose of therapy. Music therapy can be active, with you singing or playing an instrument, or passive, with you listening. Some therapies help with development, often for people with autism or developmental delays. Other therapies use music to help heal different parts of the brain.

Music has been studied in areas that include:

Guided imagery and music –  helps you explore your inner world through music selected for you by an MTA. As you listen, the MTA will ask you questions about mental images, feelings, and other sensations that arise. This can help you cope with anxiety, depression, or grief.

Neurological – uses music to help regulate emotions and improve function in people who are experiencing conditions that cause cognitive, sensory, or motor dysfunction. It’s commonly used in rehab settings for people who have suffered a stroke or traumatic brain injury.

Behavioral – uses carefully selected music to support desired behaviors or reduce undesired behaviors. Several sessions are needed to meet the desired goal.

Analytical (active) – helps you express and understand inner thoughts through creating music with the help of an MTA. When creating the music, you explore how you feel through musical interactions, words, body language, and facial expressions.

Improvisational (unplanned) – involves creating music in the moment to express emotions. The MTA listens and responds musically to support emotional regulation and to connect in musical improvisation. It’s less structured than analytical music therapy.

Non-clinical music therapy

Non-clinical music therapy does not require an MTA. It can be informed by an MTA or be self-directed. Options include:

Group music therapy – playing, singing, or listening to music, or playing musical games with a group of people for emotional or mental support.

Movement to music – dancing or moving to music to improve self-expression, relieve stress, and improve body awareness.

Songwriting – creating or rewriting a song to help express your feelings.

Does insurance cover music therapy?

Music therapy might be covered by your insurance under mental health services. It depends on the type of license your therapist has. Check with your insurance company to find out if the music therapy services you are interested in are covered.