Music Therapy in Trauma Recovery: The Power of Songwriting
Music therapy can play an important role in mental health care, including working through and healing from trauma. As we continue to learn more about the mechanisms of trauma and what effective healing looks like, it has become clear that music’s ability to help us connect with our emotions and be used in an instrumental way (pun intended), when engaging in trauma therapy.
If you’re experiencing PTSD, looking to better understand and heal from childhood trauma, or experiencing other issues related to trauma, music can serve as a bridge between your inner world and the path to recovery.
What is Music Therapy?
Music therapy is a clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship. Administered by a certified music therapist, it involves a range of techniques including listening, improvisation, lyric analysis, and therapeutic songwriting. Want to see an example of a song written in music therapy? Visit our About Music Therapy page.
Unlike simply listening to a favourite playlist, music therapy is a structured process tailored to the individual's specific emotional and psychological needs. The music therapist’s on our team are also Registered Psychotherapists, also trained in verbal counselling, and it can be integrated meaningfully into traditional talk therapy.
The Connection Between Trauma and Music
Trauma can disrupt the brain's ability to process and regulate emotions. Survivors often experience heightened stress responses, difficulty expressing feelings, and emotional numbness. Music bypasses verbal barriers and taps directly into the limbic system, the brain's emotional center. This unique access allows music therapy to:
Evoke emotions safely
Regulate stress and anxiety levels
Reconnect individuals with positive memories and identity
Provide a non-verbal outlet for self-expression
It may be difficult to connect with our traumatic memories without becoming too overwhelmed or dysregulated. Music can allow for a safer container to connect and process these experiences.
Therapeutic Songwriting: A Pathway to Healing
One of the most impactful tools in music therapy for trauma is therapeutic songwriting. This technique empowers trauma survivors to create songs that express their experiences, thoughts, and feelings. The process of songwriting provides several benefits:
Emotional Expression: Putting feelings into words and music can help process and release traumatic memories.
Empowerment: Creating something personal and meaningful fosters a sense of control and accomplishment.
Narrative Integration: Songwriting can help individuals reframe their trauma story in a coherent, hopeful way.
Connection: Sharing music with others can foster understanding and reduce feelings of isolation.
How Therapeutic Songwriting Works
A music therapist guides the client through the songwriting process, which can involve:
Brainstorming Themes: Discussing emotions, memories, or events to explore.
Lyric Writing: Crafting lyrics that articulate inner thoughts.
Verbal Processing: As we brainstorm and write lyrics, there is the option to also process our experiences through talk therapy, alongside the songwriting process.
Composing Music: Selecting melodies or creating original tunes that resonate emotionally.
Recording/Performing: There is the option of recording the song or performing it in a safe space.
This structured approach provides a safe container for expressing and transforming pain into art.
The Science Behind Music Therapy
Numerous studies highlight the efficacy of music therapy in trauma recovery. Research shows that music therapy can:
Lower cortisol (stress hormone) levels
Improve mood and emotional regulation
Enhance neural connectivity in areas affected by trauma
Reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety
A 2021 study published in Frontiers in Psychology found that music-based interventions significantly improved emotional well-being in individuals with complex trauma. These outcomes support music therapy as a complement to psychological treatment.
How to Get Started with Music Therapy
If you're interested in exploring music therapy for trauma, you can visit our music therapists page or reach out to book a matching consultation to get paired with the best fit on our team. If you’re interested in learning more about how music therapy can be used in mental health care, read out other blogs on music therapy found here:
www.kstherapyservices.ca/therapy-blog-articles/music-therapy-techniques
www.kstherapyservices.ca/therapy-blog-articles/music-therapy-mental-health
www.kstherapyservices.ca/therapy-blog-articles/singing-emotion-regulation
Stay tuned for other resources, including trainings for therapists and book recommendations.
