Music Therapy & Counselling for Anxiety

Anxiety isn’t just in your head, it can take over your whole body, leaving you frozen or feeling like you’re constantly in overdrive. Whether it sneaks in quietly or hits like a wave, anxiety has a way of affecting everything, from your thoughts to your sleep to how your body feels. This post will explore how music therapy and counselling can provide relief and restore emotional balance.

Benefits of Music Therapy & Counselling for Anxiety:

• Reduces cortisol (the stress hormone) levels in the body.

• Helps promote relaxation and mindfulness.

• Improves mood by stimulating the release of dopamine and serotonin, the “feel-good” and mood-regulating neurotransmitters.

• Encourages emotional expression and release, allowing individuals to process their feelings more effectively.

• Shared music experiences can promote a sense of belonging, social connection and support

How Does it Work?

Our therapists at Elements Music Therapy & Counselling offer a space to talk things through, feel heard, and get to the root of what's really going on. Whether you're listening to music, playing instruments, or creating, it can calm your mind, ground you, and help you feel more in control. 

What happens in a therapy for anxiety?

Mindfulness-Based Techniques

• Guided relaxation with live or recorded music can motivate deep listening and in-the-moment awareness

• Breathing and body-awareness exercises are enhanced with calming tones or repetitive rhythms that are chosen intentionally

• Sound and rhythm-based mindfulness promotes grounding and nervous system regulation

• Prepares the mind and body for deeper emotional work in counselling sessions

• Music and mindfulness can help induce a sense of calm before diving into challenging conversations and leaving difficult topics during therapy (Lesiuk, 2016)

  
  

Cognitive-Behavioral Techniques

• Lyric-analysis can uncover and reframe negative self-talk

• Songwriting provides a safe space to express and shift inner thoughts 

• Musical improvisation can reflect emotional responses and practice more adaptive thinking

  
  

Acceptance Commitment Techniques

• Music as a natural vehicle for emotional expression without avoidance

• Musical themes can help identify values and songwriting can be used to articulate an individual’s ideal pathway

• Music listening experiences can offer metaphors for letting go and psychological flexibility 

  
  

Narrative Techniques

• Individuals can explore their stories through song lyrics or composing their own life "soundtrack"

• Music helps externalize the problem, creating a sense of empowerment and choice

• Group discussions around shared songs deepen connection and insight into preferred narratives

• Through story telling, it can help uncover the root causes of anxiety, allowing individuals to release pent-up emotions through sound. (Eyre, 2007)

  
  

Our approach engages both the mind and the body. Music therapy and counselling addresses the cognitive and emotional aspects of anxiety, and taps into the body’s natural rhythms, helping release tension and promote balance.

Music Therapy & Counselling in Action

• Guided Music Mindfulness: Therapists might lead you in guided mindfulness set to calming music, helping to center your mind and reduce the physical symptoms of anxiety like heart rate and muscle tension

• Listening to Music: During counselling sessions, therapists might encourage you to intentionally listen to specific elements of the music to help conceptualize meanings and thoughts through lyric analysis and discussion. 

• Creating Music: In music therapy sessions, you may be encouraged to play instruments, create melodies, or even write songs that reflect your feelings. This helps you process emotions in a creative, non-verbal way.

  
  

Is Music Therapy & Counselling Right for You?

Music therapy and counselling can be a wonderful addition to your treatment plan, especially if you enjoy music or feel drawn to the therapeutic power of sound. This approach provides a more well-rounded solution for managing anxiety.

Who can benefit from this kind of therapy for anxiety?

• Individuals of any age experiencing anxiety

• People who have trouble expressing their thoughts or emotions verbally

• Those feeling overwhelmed, tense, or emotionally disconnected

• Individuals looking for healthier ways to manage stress and worry

This integrative approach offers a supportive path toward emotional clarity, self-expression, and lasting coping strategies. If anxiety has been holding you back, music therapy and counselling can help you reconnect with calm and confidence.

Have you experienced music therapy and counselling for anxiety? Share your story in the comments, or contact us to learn how we can support your mental well-being.

References

Eyre, L. (2007). The marriage of music and narrative: Explorations in art, therapy, and research. Voices: A World Forum for Music Therapy, 7(3). https://doi.org/10.15845/voices.v7i3.549

Lesiuk, T. (2016). The development of a mindfulness-based music therapy (MBMT) program for women receiving adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer. Healthcare, 4(3), Article 53. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare4030053