Music Therapy Songwriting for Veterans: Expression, Recovery, and Emotional Support

Article Overview

Songwriting in music therapy is increasingly being explored as a meaningful way to support emotional expression, identity work, and communication in military rehabilitation. In this 2019 retrospective qualitative analysis, researchers examined 14 songs written by 11 active-duty service members during music therapy treatment at the National Intrepid Center of Excellence at Walter Reed. Songs were created across 2–3 individual sessions facilitated by a board-certified music therapist and reflected the experiences of service members coping with PTSD, depression, anxiety, TBI, and difficult recovery and reintegration processes.

The analysis found that songwriting gave service members a way to express fears, hopes, emotional pain, and the challenges of homecoming and rehabilitation. The authors describe songwriting as a reflective medium through which participants could communicate thoughts and feelings, explore difficult internal experiences, and share parts of their story with family, peers, and providers. Rather than testing symptom reduction in a controlled trial, the study offers qualitative insight into how music therapy songwriting may support emotional expression, reflection, and psychotherapeutic processing in military populations.

Why This Matters

This article matters because it highlights a side of music therapy research that is deeply human and clinically meaningful, even when it is not measured through symptom scores alone. For service members recovering from trauma, TBI, depression, anxiety, and difficult re-entry experiences, songwriting may offer a way to express emotions, communicate struggles, and explore identity in a form that can feel less threatening than direct conversation. The paper also suggests that songwriting may help lower resistance to emotional exploration through musical structure and metaphor, while supporting communication and self-understanding.

It is also valuable because the study shows how songs can become a bridge between inner experience and interpersonal connection. The authors note that the songs enabled service members to share thoughts, emotions, fears, and hopes with family, friends, and providers, sometimes for the first time, and describe songwriting as an important stepping stone in psychotherapeutic processing. For a site library, this makes the article especially useful for themes like music therapy for veterans, PTSD support, songwriting in therapy, identity and recovery, and emotional expression through music.

Bradt, J., Norris, M., Shim, M., Gracely, E. J., & Gerrity, P. (2019). Vocal warriors: A retrospective qualitative analysis of songwriting in music therapy during military service members’ rehabilitation. The Arts in Psychotherapy, 62, 19–27.

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The Veteran in a New Field, Winslow Homer, 1865

Music Therapy and Nature: Therapist Perspectives, Connection, and Well-Being

Article Overview

Nature-based approaches are gaining interest within music therapy as clinicians explore how outdoor settings, nature sounds, and nature-connecting methods may support therapeutic work. In this 2025 cross-sectional survey, researchers examined the opinions and experiences of music therapists in Germany and Austria regarding the integration of nature into music therapy practice.

The findings suggest that many therapists saw strong potential in nature-based music therapy, even though most reported limited direct experience using it in practice. Respondents also identified possible benefits such as enhanced therapeutic insight and positive effects of nature sounds on client well-being, while noting concerns related to distraction and confidentiality.

Why This Matters

This article matters because it highlights an emerging area of music therapy practice while staying grounded in what the study actually examined. Rather than testing client outcomes directly, the survey captures how music therapists are thinking about nature-assisted music therapy, outdoor music therapy, and the role of therapeutic environment in supporting connection, reflection, and well-being.

It is also useful because it points to a growing interest in how music therapy may extend beyond traditional indoor settings. For readers interested in wellness, mindful listening, nature sounds, and creative approaches to care, this article offers insight into where the field may be headed and what practical factors still need to be considered.

Pfeifer, E., Aigner, S. E., Stolterfoth, C., Dale, R., Ostermann, T., Probst, T., & Humer, E. (2025). Music therapists’ perspectives on nature-connecting methods and the integration of nature in music therapy: Results of a survey among German and Austrian music therapists. The Arts in Psychotherapy, 92, 102252. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aip.2025.102252

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An Orange-Headed Ground Thrush and a Death’s-Head Moth on a Purple Ebony Orchid Branch, Shaikh Zain al-Din, 1778.

Clinicians’ Views of Music Therapy: Emotional Support, Communication, and Quality of Life

Article Overview

This 2024 qualitative study explores clinicians’ views of music therapy for hospitalized children and adolescents. Published in the Journal of Pediatric Nursing, the study used two focus groups with 18 healthcare professionals after an interactive music therapy session to examine how clinicians perceived the role of music therapy in pediatric hospital care.

Clinicians described music therapy as supportive of emotional support, communication, coping, and quality of life for children and adolescents in the hospital. They also identified benefits related to emotional expression, family support, and the overall care experience, suggesting that music therapy may contribute to more relational and holistic pediatric care.

Why This Matters

This article matters because it shows how clinicians in pediatric hospital settings view music therapy as part of patient care. While the study does not measure clinical outcomes directly, it offers valuable insight into how music therapy is recognized by professionals working with hospitalized children and adolescents every day.

For a public-facing music therapy library, this article helps explain that music therapy in hospitals is not simply entertainment. According to clinicians in the study, music therapy may support emotional support, communication, coping, and quality of life in pediatric care. That makes it a strong supporting article for families, hospitals, and referral sources interested in child and adolescent music therapy.

Barrio, M., Moreno-Mulet, C., Romero-García, M., & Ríos-Risquez, M. I. (2024). Healthcare professionals’ perceptions towards music therapy for hospitalized children and adolescents: A qualitative study. Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 79, e191–e198. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedn.2024.07.022

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Woman and Child, Kate Greenaway, 1883

Music Therapy for Parkinson’s Disease: Gait, Speech, and Personalized Care

Article Overview

Music therapy is increasingly being discussed as part of a broader, patient-centered approach to Parkinson’s disease care. In this 2025 mini review, the authors examine how music therapy may fit alongside emerging precision medicine strategies in Parkinson’s treatment. Rather than reporting new clinical trial data or conducting a systematic evidence synthesis, the article offers a concise overview of existing research on music-based interventions, genetic profiling, and personalized care approaches in Parkinson’s disease.

The review highlights music therapy approaches such as rhythmic auditory stimulation for gait and group singing for speech and psychosocial well-being, while also discussing future-facing topics like wearable sensors, adaptive AI platforms, and individualized treatment planning. At the same time, the authors are transparent about limitations: they note the need for more rigorous clinical validation for music therapy protocols, along with larger longitudinal studies and better-integrated treatment models.

Why This Matters

This article matters because Parkinson’s disease affects far more than movement alone. It can also shape speech, emotional well-being, daily functioning, and quality of life. This mini review is useful for readers interested in how music therapy may support areas such as gait, speech, neurorehabilitation, and psychosocial well-being within a more personalized care framework. The abstract specifically notes reported benefits such as 15–20% improvements in gait parameters with rhythmic auditory stimulation and benefits from group singing for speech function and psychosocial well-being.

It is also important to frame the article accurately. This is a mini review, which means it provides a selective overview and conceptual discussion rather than the stronger evidence base you would expect from a systematic review, meta-analysis, or randomized controlled trial. For that reason, it is best used in a site library as a supporting article that highlights promising directions and emerging ideas, not as definitive proof of effectiveness. The authors themselves note that music therapy protocols still require more rigorous clinical validation.

Li-Hua, P., Jallow, L., Tan, Y., & Bajinka, O. (2025). Precision medicine and music therapy for Parkinson’s disease. Clinical Parkinsonism & Related Disorders, 13, 100382. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prdoa.2025.100382

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Two Girls with Parasols, John Singer Sargent, 1888 or 1889

Music Therapy in the ICU: Comfort, Connection, and the Human Side of Recovery

Article Overview

Music therapy is increasingly being explored in hospital and critical care settings as a supportive, patient-centered intervention. In this 2025 qualitative study, researchers examined how patients in a critical care unit experienced a 20-minute music therapy session led by a qualified music therapist. The study included 14 patients and focused on their perceptions of how music therapy influenced stress, illness, and recovery.

Three major themes emerged from the study: humanizing and accompanying the critical care experience, music therapy as a form of relaxation, and relief and recovery through music therapy. Patients described music therapy as comforting, emotionally connecting, and helpful in reducing stress, anxiety, pain, and feelings of isolation during ICU care.

Why This Matters

Critical care can be overwhelming, disorienting, and emotionally intense. This study matters because it shows that music therapy may support more than symptom relief. It may also help humanize care, create emotional connection, and offer patients a sense of comfort and identity in a highly medicalized environment.

For patients, families, nurses, and healthcare teams, this article highlights music therapy as a non-pharmacological approach that may support relaxation, coping, and emotional recovery in the ICU. The study also emphasizes the role of interdisciplinary care and suggests that personalized music therapy can become a meaningful part of critical care practice.

Saldaña-Ortiz, V., Recio-Rivas, A., Mansilla-Domínguez, J. M., & Martínez-Miguel, E. (2025). Impact of music therapy on patients in the critical care unit: A qualitative study. Nursing in Critical Care, 30, e70099. https://doi.org/10.1111/nicc.70099

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The Duet, James McNeill Whistler, 1894.

Music Therapy for Chronic Pain: Relief, Resonance, and Emotional Well-Being

Article Overview

Music therapy is increasingly being explored as a supportive treatment for people living with chronic pain. In this 2025 systematic review and meta-analysis, researchers examined randomized controlled trials to evaluate whether music therapy could improve chronic pain, anxiety, depression, and quality of life. The review included 9 trials with a total of 787 patients.

The findings suggest that music therapy may help reduce chronic pain and depression, but the evidence was not strong for anxiety or quality of life improvement. The authors also found that outcomes varied depending on the setting, pain type, intervention format, and how the music was delivered.

Why This Matters

Chronic pain can affect daily functioning, mood, relationships, and overall quality of life. This review matters because it highlights music therapy as a non-pharmacological approach that may help reduce pain and depression in some chronic pain populations, especially at a time when clinicians and patients are looking for alternatives or complements to medication-based care.

For patients, families, and healthcare professionals, this review offers a helpful evidence-based look at where music therapy may be most useful. It also reinforces that music therapy is not a one-size-fits-all intervention. Factors like pain type, setting, patient music choice, and provider training may all influence outcomes.

Chen, S., Yuan, Q., Wang, C., Ye, J., & Yang, L. (2025). The effect of music therapy for patients with chronic pain: Systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Psychology, 13, 455. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-02643-x

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Cotton Tree Flowers, ca. 1800–1805.

Music Therapy for Autism Spectrum Disorder: Social Interaction, Communication, and Connection

Article Overview

Music therapy uses musical experiences and the relationships that develop through them to support communication, expression, and connection. In this Cochrane systematic review, researchers examined the effects of music therapy for children with autism spectrum disorder, with a focus on social interaction, verbal and non-verbal communication, initiating behavior, and emotional reciprocity.

The review suggests that music therapy may help improve social interaction, verbal communication, initiating behavior, and social-emotional reciprocity. The authors also describe possible benefits in areas such as social adaptation, joy, and the quality of parent-child relationships, while noting that more research is still needed.

Why This Matters

Autism support often involves more than reducing challenges. It also includes creating opportunities for connection, expression, relationship-building, and meaningful engagement. This review is important because it highlights music therapy as a relational and interactive approach that may support communication and social development in ways that feel motivating and accessible.

For families, educators, and clinicians, this review offers a helpful overview of how music therapy may support children with autism in areas that matter deeply in daily life. It also reinforces the idea that music therapy is not simply passive listening, but a trained, relationship-based process that can support growth in communication and social connection.

Geretsegger, M., Elefant, C., Mössler, K. A., & Gold, C. (2014). Music therapy for people with autism spectrum disorder. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2014(6), CD004381. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD004381.pub3

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The Dance Lesson, Edgar Degas, ca. 1879.

Music Therapy in End-of-Life Care: Comfort, Connection, and the Human Side of Care

Article Overview

Music therapy has long been used in hospice, palliative care, and other end-of-life settings to support comfort, expression, connection, and quality of life. In this narrative review, researchers examine the biological and clinical effects of music therapy in end-of-life care, with a focus on anxiety, pain, stress, and individualized care planning.

The review explains that music therapy in these settings is more than a pleasant distraction. According to the authors, music can influence emotional processing, physiological stress responses, and pain perception while also supporting a more personalized and humane care experience for terminally ill patients.

Why This Matters

End-of-life care often involves not only physical symptoms, but also fear, sadness, overwhelm, isolation, and the need for meaning and comfort. The review suggests that music therapy in palliative care settings may help reduce anxiety and pain while supporting well-being and emotional and spiritual care.

The authors also point out that music therapy can support caregivers, not just patients, and that personalized approaches such as biographical music therapy may help people express emotions and connect more clearly with their own life stories.

Terzoni, S., De Vita, A., Ferrara, P., et al. (2025). Biological effects of music therapy in end-of-life care: A narrative review. Medicina, 61, 1690.

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Peonies Blown in the Wind, John La Farge, ca. 1880.