Music therapy is a special form of expressive art therapy that uses music and music-based activities to help people heal in various ways. According to research, there are several benefits of music therapy, including reducing stress, treating pain, improving emotional regulation, enhancing interpersonal communication, improving auditory processing, decreasing loneliness, and in some cases, even improving sleep.1 Because of these many benefits, music therapy programs at our Lake Worth drug rehab can be used to treat a variety of ailments, including certain mental health disorders and addictions.
Music Therapy for Mental Health & Substance Abuse
As a holistic treatment center in Lake Worth, we understand that recovery from a behavioral health problem takes time, and there are many different pathways to success. For people struggling with mental health disorders or in recovery from addiction, music therapy programs can increase their chances of finding long-term success. People with mental illness or substance abuse problems often struggle with a multitude of secondary problems connected to their disorder, including everything from relationship problems to insomnia. If these issues are not addressed and managed in treatment, many people’s recovery efforts will fail. Because of its many proven benefits, music therapy can help people work through some of these problems.
Music therapy techniques and activities for people with addiction and/or mental illness might include:
- Playing a variety of instruments
- Playing instruments in a group
- Singing
- Writing song lyrics
- Song production
- Music selection
- Music bingo
- Music improvisation
- Music-guided meditation
- Vibro-acoustic therapy
- Listening to peaceful or cheerful music
- Listening to music with visual aids
- Talking about emotions in relation to certain songs or music
Over time, these music therapy techniques can help people learn to better recognize, express, and regulate their emotions. All of these processes are important for lasting recovery and success for both substance abuse and mental health.
Our Favorite Examples of Therapeutic Music
The type of music that a person resonates with is deeply personal and unique to their lived experience and tastes. That being said, there are certain forms of music and songs that are known to have a positive impact on stress levels, spiritual uplifting, and the promotion of healing.
Some examples of healing therapy music include:
- Classical music: Classical music, especially compositions by Johann Sebastian Bach, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and Ludwig van Beethoven, has long been recognized as having therapeutic benefits. Complex rhythms, harmonies, and melodies found in classical music have been shown to enhance focus and concentration while lowering blood pressure and decreasing anxiety.
- Ambient and new age music: The New Age and ambient music genres are renowned for their atmospheric tranquility. These genres combine calming tones, delicate melodies, and aspects of nature like wind, water, and bird singing. Compositions by musicians like Brian Eno, Enya, and Kitaro have been written particularly to encourage relaxation and stress alleviation. Ambient and New Age music are great for yoga, meditation, and sleep therapy because of how ethereal and relaxing they are.
- Binaural beats: These beats produce a rhythmic pulsation that influences brainwave activity by playing two slightly different frequencies in each ear. Binaural beats can promote relaxation, increase focus, and aid in the practice of meditation since they focus on particular brainwave states like alpha, theta, or delta waves. For further therapeutic value, these beats can be coupled with soothing music or background noise.
- World music: There is vast therapeutic potential in the tapestry of world music. Traditional musical styles, beats, and melodies from other cultures can foster a sense of community, provoke strong feelings, and stimulate the mind. World music has the ability to transport listeners and foster a sense of oneness and well-being, whether it be the pulsating drumming of Africa, the contemplative chants of Tibetan monks, or the calming tones of a Japanese koto.
Music Therapy for Addiction in Lake Worth
At Behavioral Health of the Palm Beaches, we, too, believe in the power of music to promote healing. We offer music therapy services for addiction and mental health patients to help them work through the ancillary problems connected to these disorders and improve their chances of finding lasting success.
Recovery from both problems can be a stressful time, and stress can trigger a relapse. Our Palm Beach music therapy groups for mental health and addiction can help patients reduce stress and improve their mood during treatment. Because of this, patients are more likely to stay on track in their recovery.
Detox, in particular, can be a challenging time for people trying to recover from drug and alcohol addiction. While our BHOPB detox center does everything in its power to keep patients comfortable and ease pain during this process, it may not be enough. Music therapy’s ability to treat pain, decrease stress, and improve sleep can be beneficial for patients in this program.
People with mental illness or substance abuse problems may also have problems dealing with emotions. Substance abuse is known to be how some people cope with negative emotions. Our Lake Worth music therapy programs promote better emotional regulation, so the patients are not as tempted to turn to drugs and alcohol for help.
Music therapy groups can also promote better communication skills and create a bond between patients. This connection can become a means of support for many patients during treatment and even after they leave our facility.
Unlike some other rehab programs, we have a music production studio on-site so that patients at our residential treatment center have access to professional equipment and trained music therapists during their stay.
Contact the professionals at our Banyan Lake Worth rehab to learn more about the treatment methods for addiction recovery that we offer and how they can help you.
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