Music Hath Charms: The Healing Effects of Music in Psychotherapy
Abstract
Although music can have a significant impact on people's health and psychological well-being, it is not widely used as a therapeutic tool outside the realm of the music therapist. While several music therapy techniques (e.g., musical improvisation) require intensive training and knowledge, more receptive or passive forms of music intervention (e.g., music listening) can be integrated effectively in various psychotherapeutic approaches by psychotherapists in general practice. Through a review of the available literature on the relevance of music for psychotherapy this paper examines the approaches to using music in psychotherapy, the spiritual impact of music, its physiological and neurological effects, our motivations to listen to music, the relationship between music and physical and mental well-being, and its potential as a therapeutic intervention, with the goal of will identifying effective music interventions that can be utilized by psychotherapists without formal training in music therapy. A case study highlights the use of music as a therapeutic tool by a psychotherapist (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)