Benefits of Music Therapy for Teens
Music therapy has been proven to help adolescents manage stress and enhance their mood. It may be especially helpful for teens with neurodivergent minds or who have been diagnosed with a mental health condition; additionally, music therapy can benefit teens whose parents or close family members suffer from mental health issues.
Music therapy benefits teens by increasing socialization and memory- Adolescents who participate in musical activities develop communication skills, self-expression, and an awareness of themselves and others. These abilities are fostered, reinforced, and transferred to other areas of their life.
Teens often turn to music to identify and work through emotions they are feeling, such as bullying or sexual abuse. Sometimes they use it for reflection on past experiences like bullying or sexual abuse and find ways to process those emotions. Unfortunately, teens may struggle with talking about these issues or feel embarrassed to reach out for support.
Krings stresses the importance of teaching teens the art of song writing. Through songwriting, teens can discover their own original compositions and perform them publicly, giving them a voice and the chance to express themselves creatively and expressively.
Lyrics are an integral part of most adolescents’ lives and serve to express themselves to others. Patients often write lyrics that articulate their fears, goals and aspirations; these lyrics can then be utilized in music therapy sessions to validate those emotions.
Improvisation – Adolescents can practice playing musical games and rhythms with their music therapist. This could range from a drum beat or series of chords to the phrase of a song, helping them be creative and express their thoughts better.
Music therapy can be especially helpful for those suffering from anxiety or difficulty communicating verbally. It may also prove beneficial to teens with hearing or memory problems.
Music Therapy Encourages Creativity – Adolescents participating in music therapy often express themselves creatively and expressively at every opportunity. They may create songs, compose melodies, dance, or simply listen to music.
Reduces Depression and Anxiety – Music therapy has many advantages for teens, such as improving moods and emotional wellbeing. Many teenagers may experience feelings of depression and anxiety due to various causes; such as having a neurodivergent mind, having parents or close family members with mental health issues, or healing from trauma.
Many teens experience depression and anxiety as part of growing up. But for some, these feelings can become overwhelming, leading to more severe psychiatric disorders.
The COVID-19 pandemic has compounded this uncertainty, leaving teens struggling to manage their emotions. Providing teens with a safe space to express their feelings can be essential in recovering from trauma.
At Princeton House, we are striving to assist our patients through these trying times by offering weekly music therapy sessions via telehealth videoconferencing. In these sessions, patients get to listen to soothing music with a therapist acting as “therapeutic DJ,” write song lyrics on the shared screen, and facilitate discussions around them.