What is Music Therapy? Understanding This Distinct Therapeutic Practice

A group music therapy session

What is Music Therapy: A Clear Definition

Music therapy is a clinical, evidence-based practice that uses music to help people achieve health and wellness goals. More than listening to songs for relaxation, it involves a certified music therapist guiding you through targeted activities to support your mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual wellbeing. 

What is Music Therapy Used For?

At its core, music therapy is about using music purposefully within a therapeutic relationship. Sessions are designed to address specific needs like stress relief, emotional expression, or personal growth. Clinical research shows that music stimulates multiple areas of the brain, affecting mood, memory, coordination, and even physical rehabilitation. 

What Can You Expect in a Music Therapy Session?

What happens in a music therapy session? After assessing your needs, the therapist creates a plan with personalized techniques. You don’t need any musical background—sessions focus on the experience, not performance.

Activities may include: 

• Active music and improvising (singing, drumming, or playing musical instruments) 

• Songwriting to tell your story and process emotions 

• Guided listening to spark reflection and relaxation 

• Lyric analysis to help express or understand feelings 

By engaging with music in a supportive setting, you can discover new coping strategies, connect more deeply with yourself, and unlock creative pathways to healing. 

Ready to experience the benefits? Contact us to learn more or book your first music therapy session. 

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Written by

Vivian Chan, MMT, MT-BC, MTA, FAMI

Board Certified Music Therapist (US, CA)

Co-founder of Sacred Space Therapy and Wellness

Ms. Vivian Chan, MMT, MT-BC, MTA, FAMI is a board-certified music therapist in the United States and Canada, specializing in music psychotherapy and trauma-informed care. With extensive experience across children, adolescents, and adults, she supports individuals navigating mental health challenges and life-altering conditions. A qualified Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music therapist, Vivian helps clients explore emotions, inner self, and the unconscious to build coping skills and enhance personal development and well-being through music’s therapeutic benefits.

She serves as Immediate Past-President of the World Federation of Music Therapy, Co-Founder of Sacred Space Therapy and Wellness, a member of the Hong Kong Music Therapy Association’s Ethics Committee, and a Clinical Supervisor at Chulalongkorn University, Thailand.