Music Therapy
- Dr Tshidi M Wyllie,PhD.
- Mar 10
- 4 min read
You may have gone for therapy at some point, and your therapist may have recommended music as one of your coping mechanisms. Research indicates that music can help a lot of people who maybe experiencing various mental health issues. It's effective in improving mental health, enhancing communication and promoting physical rehabilitation.
There are a couple of benefits associated with Music. Research indicates that it may prevent or improve dementia by about 76% and help people experiencing anxiety and depression.
It enhances emotional expression and reduces the symptoms of anxiety and depression, it is said to improve memory and cognitive functioning, especially in older adults, which is why it's often recommended for people living with dementia. It is also linked to aiding in physical rehabilitation and enhancing motor skills.
Why? because music usually stimulates the desire to want to shake your body, to want to dance. So since its associated with dancing it may improve motor skills, promote communication and social interaction in social gathering.
You may have noticed that when you are listening to music, sometimes you may find yourself being able to connect with people who like the same type of music in a social gathering and have the ability to strike a conversation.
Therefore, it improves social interactions which is why in most cases when there is music function happening, it draws a crowd of people as human beings seem to respond to music and/or are easily stimulated by music.
Have you noticed ( if you are a church goer) how after the church service, you often feel different, deep inside of you, more happier and peaceful? or when you have been listening to music, even just in your house, whether it’ gospel or any calming soothing music often you feel uplifted and even physically energized?. Hence, its often effectively used for managing dementia, as well as anxiety disorders, mood disorders, and helping developmental disabilities.
It can be used by therapists as a complimentary treatment or as one of the coping strategies, though often people take it lightly when you say; apart from journaling, going for walks, jogging, going to the gym, also listen to music because it's soothing.
However, different types of music may trigger different types of emotions; for example, If you listen to somber type of music that is accompanied by certain lyrics, it may trigger sadness. Say you listening to music that has lyrics talking about gender-based violence (GBV), toxic relationships etc and you happen to be going through a similar situation, you may easily get triggered. Similarly, if you listen to music about love, healthy, beautiful relationships, it may also trigger you as you place yourself in the situation and think ; “ but this is not happening for me, I'm feeling sad, my relationship is not anything like this, am not experiencing the same type of healthy love / relationship”. Such thoughts triggered by the lyrics may trigger more sadness for you or give you hope that someday you may experience the same.
The truth is that certain music that we often listen to or sing especially during the grieving period and at funeral rituals are triggering. Therefore , hearing such songs from radio or television when going through grief may trigger feelings of sadness or depression.
However, there is a certain type of music that maybe calming to your nervous system that may bring calmness and inner peace.
This is why I decided to put music together hoping that as you listen, it may help you heal and cope better with whatever you maybe going through, and hopefully it may have that soothing effect to your mind, emotions and your mental well-being.
As you listen to the music, it's important to pay attention to the lyrics, the instruments, and try to identify the different instruments in each piece of musical song, notice the tempo, rhythm, beat and the melody.
If you are very good at playing an instrument, you may have also noticed that when you play your guitar, keyboard, piano, recorder or whatever instrument you are good at, you start feeling so invigorated, energized, happier, peaceful and if you had anxiety, stress, or were struggling with anger, the music brings that inner calmness and has an uplifting effect on you.
So, it's not just the lyrics that you listen to, it's also identifying the various instruments in that particular melody or song you maybe listening to.
In this particular one, I've put together mostly instrumental type of music without the lyrics, only one song has the lyrics in it.
I hope that as you listen to this, it may bring calmness for you. Enjoy the music therapy, and as you do, as you listen, pay attention and notice your thoughts, your feelings, emotions and your behavioral response to the music. Just enjoy!.
“Binds the soul to this serene place” etc on our Apple podcast
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From New Beginnings CounsellingBW: Music Therapy, 04 Mar 2026
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