The psychological healing power of music

Many of the children were hard to reach, and talking and traditional psychotherapy in an office setting did not always work for them. They were afraid to open up.

By MIKE GROPPER
Guitar (illustrative) (photo credit: TNS)
Guitar (illustrative)
(photo credit: TNS)
“I think music in itself is healing. It’s an explosive expression of humanity. It’s something we are all touched by. No matter what culture we’re from, everyone loves music.” – Billy Joel
As a music lover and musician, I have often experienced the benefits of music in my life. Over the years, I have used music in my professional work as a way to help others.
One of my early professional experiences using music was when I worked as a therapist in a New York-area residential treatment center for at-risk teens from the inner city.
Many of the children were hard to reach, and talking and traditional psychotherapy in an office setting did not always work for them. They were afraid to open up. Acting out their feelings was much more familiar and normal for these kids.
To help these youngsters, I developed a pilot program for 12 borderline and antisocial youth that combined active expression of music, using guitars and percussion instruments. I saw that playing an instrument helped these problem children channel negative energy into a more productive direction.
In the second part of this program, I asked the participants to choose their favorite songs to listen to and then talk about how the songs made them feel. This led to talking more openly about their family problems at home and other personal issues, something they had never done before.
It was through this therapeutic activity that I gained firsthand knowledge of the benefits of using music as a part of the psychological healing process in therapy
Music can be very helpful in psychotherapy. “Music therapy is the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship” (American Music Therapy Association).
After some time in therapy, Jerry, 22, realized that he had been repressing anger and aggression due to years of childhood emotional and physical abuse. I routinely ask my clients about their hobbies, and Jerry told me that during his teen years he taught himself to play the guitar. I realized that this was a great opportunity to help him deal with his feelings. He was full of anger, and I asked him if he would bring his guitar to our meeting. I told him that I also played the guitar. This opened up a solid rapport, and he gladly brought his guitar to a session.
Both playing the guitar and Jerry’s choice of songs became his voice and an outlet for his feelings. Over the course of several sessions, I helped him to talk about his deeper feelings and emotional experiences and began the process of working on his emotions. Playing the guitar was the therapeutic breakthrough in our work together.
The behavioral science literature describes many examples of the psychological benefits of music.
• Research has found that listening to your favorite music on a regular basis can provide the same benefits as meditation. Meditation has been scientifically linked to relaxation, stress reduction and overall health and well-being. This is good news for people who are looking for alternative approaches to health but find it hard to meditate. Let music become your source of relaxation.
• Studies suggest that exposure to prosocial lyrics increases positive thought, empathy and helping behavior, and helps people to connect with one another. For instance, the message in the lyrics of Michael Jackson’s “We are the world” – “We are the world... we are the children.... We are the ones who make a brighter day. So let’s start giving” – can instill positive feelings and a sense of wanting to help others.
• Pain researchers have found that when people who suffer from chronic pain listen to music that they enjoy, they reduce the need for pain medication.
• Research has shown that having musical training and listening to or playing music in old age can help keep the brain healthy, especially as it ages.
• Music even helps people deal with negative emotions such as sadness, anger and fear. People unconsciously self-select music to help work through those bad feelings that are part of life experience.
• Listening to music increases production of pleasure chemicals such as endorphins and dopamine in the brain which help to make you feel happier and more relaxed.
Therefore, the next time you are at a party or concert, and your favorite tune is played and you find yourself tapping your feet, do not fight it. Enjoy it.
The writer is a marital, child and adult cognitive-behavioral psychotherapist with offices in Jerusalem and Ra’anana. www.facebook.com/drmikegropper; drmikegropper@gmail.com