Trauma Therapy Music: How Music Can Support Individuals With Trauma
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Traumatic events can have long-lasting effects on those who experience or witness them, with some developing mental health conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). When coping with trauma, several treatment options may be helpful. One option is music therapy, which typically involves playing, listening to, or learning music to soothe the nervous system and cope with the adverse impacts of trauma on the body and mind. If you or a loved one has experienced a traumatic event, trauma therapy and music may offer a path forward.
What is trauma?
According to the American Psychological Association (APA), trauma is “an emotional response to a terrible event like an accident, crime, natural disaster, physical or emotional abuse, neglect, experiencing or witnessing violence, the death of a loved one, war, and more.”
What causes a trauma response in one person might not cause the same response in another. Some people may cope with and move through trauma on their own with time, while others might develop mental illnesses like PTSD, depression, or adjustment disorder.
Understanding PTSD
In the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-V), post-traumatic stress disorder is listed under the trauma and stressor-related disorder category. PTSD is generally organized into four symptom categories: re-experiencing symptoms, avoidance symptoms, arousal and reactivity symptoms, and cognition and mood-related symptoms. An individual must experience symptoms from all four categories for at least a month after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event to be diagnosed with PTSD.
Symptoms of PTSD can include the following:
- Flashbacks or a sense of “re-experiencing” the traumatic event
- Nightmares
- Avoidance of people, places, objects, situations, thoughts, and topics that remind one of the traumatic event
- An overactive startle reflex
- Difficulty concentrating
- Difficulty falling or staying asleep (insomnia)
- Risky behavior
- Depression and anxiety symptoms
- Persistent negative emotions, like fear, guilt, or shame
- A lack of pleasure in previously enjoyed activities
- Social withdrawal
- Difficulty remembering details of the traumatic event
- Dissociation or a sense of being “out of one’s body”
- Excessive blame toward oneself or others regarding the event
- Recurrent distressing thoughts or mental images
- Physical symptoms like headaches, muscle pain, and shakiness
- Anger or aggressive outbursts that are out of character
Those experiencing PTSD symptoms may benefit from speaking to a mental health professional, as PTSD is often highly manageable with support.
Trauma therapy and music: Exploring music therapy for trauma
Music and trauma tend to have a complex relationship, but music has sometimes been used in therapy by trained music therapists to support people with conditions like PTSD. Music may stimulate the reward centers in the brain, which can provide pleasure and relieve certain challenging symptoms, such as difficulty enjoying daily life. Types of music therapy interventions might include the following:
- Guided imagery and music (GIM)
- Improvisation therapy
- Lyric analysis
- Songwriting
- Listening to soothing music while meditating
- Music and art therapy
- Dance therapy with music
- Singing therapy
- Playing musical instruments
- Listening to other people play instruments or sing
In music therapy treatment, the trauma therapist may first develop an understanding of the client’s trauma history, symptoms, diagnoses, and family history. Next, the therapist can implement a unique treatment plan involving suitable music therapy practices. In some cases, the therapist may teach the client how to play music. In others, the therapist and client may make or listen to music together. In general, clients do not need to have prior musical experience to try music therapy for trauma.
A meta-analysis review of music therapy for trauma
In 2020, researchers analyzed 36 studies on the topic of music therapy for trauma to discern whether the use of this practice for the treatment of trauma disorders was supported by evidence. Below are the results of the study.
Study rationale
According to researchers, trauma and rhythm have been intrinsically linked for years. Theorists have posited that rhythm-based activities may allow the brain to connect neural pathways that were previously harmed by traumatic events.
Some studies within the analysis theorize that because the amygdala is often hypervigilant to threats after trauma, regulating arousal activities like music may stimulate the social engagement system more positively, allowing individuals to connect with the emotional part of the brain in a less anxious or distressed state.
Method
When analyzing data from 36 studies to analyze the efficacy of music therapy in mental healthcare, the scholars looked at the following factors:
- The symptoms of participants
- The diagnoses of participants (PTSD, complex PTSD, etc.)
- Demographic information
- Whether the provider was a licensed music therapist
- The number of study participants
- The type of research design
- Program findings and results
- Music methods used
- Music genres used
- References to rhythm
- Causes of the participants’ trauma
Five studies focused primarily on rhythm (mainly through group drumming), nine included drumming as a method, and 11 articles studied improvisation, songwriting, and listening to music.
Findings
The meta-analysis found that music therapy was usually helpful for various study participants. However, researchers also concluded that “not all people benefit from the same supports… Therefore, a spectrum of approaches is necessary, and it would be inappropriate to advocate for one over the other, but rather to attend to the individual in context and determine what music-based approach would meet their needs and desires at a given moment in time.”
The benefits of joining a music group
Outside of a professional setting, music groups may offer a chance for people with trauma to meet their social needs while practicing musical activities. Below are a few types of groups that adults may join:
- A local or online choir
- An orchestra or band
- An improvisation group
- A musical theater group
- Musical support groups for mental wellness
- Music-listening groups
- A music class to learn an instrument or voice lessons
- Spiritual music groups
In a 2021 exploratory randomized controlled trial, researchers found that group music therapy could improve mental and physical health. In some cases, these interventions were associated with reduced inflammation, enhanced emotional response to pain, and an improved immune system for participants.
Music groups and group therapy may also offer opportunities to make friends and other important social connections, which can improve mental well-being and increase lifespan.
Support options
Living with trauma can come with various challenges. Music therapy may be an option for coping with symptoms, reducing emotional distress, and improving daily life. However, it is not the only option. Some people may find that they cannot access in-person therapy due to financial struggles, distance, or accessibility barriers. In these cases, online therapy through a platform like BetterHelp may be more convenient.
Through an online platform, clients can be matched with a licensed mental health professional based on their unique needs and preferences. They can attend sessions from the location of their choice at a time that suits their schedule, and they may choose between phone call, video conference, and online chat for each appointment.
Studies show that internet-based therapy interventions can be as effective as face-to-face options. According to a 2022 study, “Guided internet based CBT-TF (cognitive behavioral therapy with a trauma focus) for mild to moderate PTSD to one traumatic event was non-inferior to individual face-to-face CBT-TF and should be considered a first line treatment for people with this condition.”
Takeaway
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