Resources & references

This article describes how music therapy can be an anti-oppressive and affirmative service for LGBTQ+ individuals. It describes the benefits of music therapy in both group and individual settings, and describes an example of how one client benefited from a music therapy program.

This video (in Spanish) explains how music has been used therapeutically throughout history. It describes how music was used in ancient civilizations, the Middle Ages, the renaissance, the baroque period, and the modern age, when music therapy was established as a profession.

This informational page from the Music Therapy Association of British-Columbia provides an overview of music therapy practices in a mental health context. It describes why music therapy may be effective in addressing mental health needs, lists examples of mental illnesses where music therapy can help, presents different approaches and activities that can be used, and provides literature supporting the use of music therapy for mental health.

Read an article on how music therapists in the United States address spiritual needs in individuals with substance use disorders. Results found that a variety of methods are employed, humanistic approaches are the most common, and that both song discussion and lyric analysis were useful in targeting spiritual goals.

Read an article about a music therapy program in a school setting with the goal of supporting refugee children as they settle into their host country. Results demonstrate the importance of cultural sensitivity, staff training, seeking external funding, and incorporating music therapy as part of a holistic approach for success in the program.

Read about a therapy program by an art and music therapist for transgender, nonbinary, and gender-questioning youth, supporting gender identity exploration and learn about the challenges and opportunities encountered during its pilot implementation.

This study aimed to investigate the impact of Remini-Sing RCT, community-based therapeutic choirs led by music therapists and offered to individuals with dementia and their caregivers. Preliminary results  showed a decrease in anxiety and depression. Considering the limited number of participants, the article also addresses the issue of  recruitment and retention of participants, to help future research and improve sustainability of such programs.

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.