Resources & references

At McGuire VA Medical Center in Virginia, Hope Kumme, a certified music therapist, uses music to help veterans with PTSD and other chronic ailments. Learn how group music therapy sessions have helped clients improve pain management, mood, and quality of life.

This fact sheet, developed by the American Music Therapy Association, describes how music therapy is effective in supporting military service members and veterans. It describes how active and receptive music experiences can address physical, cognitive, communication, social, and emotional goals.

This article reviews existing research on the use of music therapy to support veterans and military personnel. It identifies primary music therapy techniques utilized in the treatment of trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to best meet their broad and complex needs.

Air Force veteran Christopher Smith shares how music therapy helped him deal with the anxiety of almost losing his eyesight. Through drumming and singing, he found a way of coping with PTSD.

Trish MacAulay, a certified music therapist at Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto, Canada, leads a group music therapy sessions for Canadian veterans. Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, participants engaged in group singing experiences to enhance social interaction and improve wellbeing.

Click here to learn more about how music therapy can improve veterans's quality of life.