Resources & references

Watch a documentary featuring music therapist Hilary Camino as she provides music therapy to older adults at Sage Living. It includes interviews, testimonials, and music therapy sessions about the benefits of music therapy for this population. Note: this video is available with closed captioning and a transcript. 

This study explored the efficacy of group music therapy sessions for teenagers and adults receiving in-patient eating disorder treatment. The results determined that music therapy was effective in reducing negative affect, improving emotional expression, supporting social connection, and helping patients on their recovery journey.

Read an article exploring a community music therapy project with the overall goal of a collective rethinking of masculinity to help prevent gender-based violence. Findings found the project to be successful at empowering men to take action.

This story explores Jorien Habing's research examining the role of songwriting to help individuals who have acquired blindness or visual impairment adjust to their new reality. 

The aim of this study was to learn how music therapy sessions, held prior to the death of a loved one, impact spirituality in surviving caregivers of advanced cancer patients. Pre-loss music therapy can potentially assist caregivers during times of bereavement, as they retain memories of joy and empowerment, rather than memories of pain and distress, and find meaning through transcendence.

This study investigated how a drumming experience influences students’ aggression and narrative experience as related to school violence. Participants were 15- to 16-year-old students from two classes in a men’s high school in a Southeastern city in Korea. The qualitative data indicated that group drumming may enhance self-esteem, assertiveness, emotional expression, anger management skills, cooperation, feelings of unity, empathy, and active listening skills.

Read an article that explores a group music therapy radio project for students with intellectual disabilities and their mothers. Results showed that the majority of students showed significant engagement with the recordings of their mother's voice, including significant emotional reactions, even though the mothers were not physically present. 

Read a thesis paper on the potential uses of songwriting in a music therapy context to assist women who have experienced unplanned pregnancy loss through the grief process. 

Written by experienced American music therapists, this book explores how music therapy can enhance the quality of life for older adults, including those with physical impairments, Parkinson’s, stroke, or dementia. It also offers strategies for caregivers to use music in supporting physical, cognitive, emotional, and social well-being.

Karla Hawley, a board certified music therapist, shares how a nostalgic piece of music helped her address and overcome the pain of childhood abuse. Through her personal testimony, she describes how music can help individuals express their emotions and heal from traumatic experiences.

This article provides general information on how music therapy can support individuals with various mental health needs. It explains what music therapy is, who can benefit, how it can support adults and teens, and music therapy experiences that are beneficial in offering emotional support.

This chapter describes the use of music technology as part of music therapy sessions at the Perkins School for the Blind. Diverse music therapy technology tools and their clinical use are described: voice output communication aids and switches, soundbeam device,  and music production softwares.