Healing Listening: The Power of Music Therapy

I’ve always loved music, not just as background noise or entertainment, but for its power to move something deep within us. Earlier this week, I went with my family to see the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra perform the live score for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. It was a wonderful experience, and the music, though familiar, had a significantly moving impact on myself and my daughter.

It reminded me just how profoundly music can speak to us, often when words fall short. Music stirs feeling, memory, and imagination, giving shape to what’s otherwise unspoken. In psychotherapy, we often talk about “regulation”, the ability to bring ourselves back to a steady place and I believe that music does this instinctively. A slow melody can ground an anxious mind, a rhythmic beat can lift our energy, a certain voice or lyric can evoke the comfort of someone long gone, and sometimes, just the simple act of listening reminds us we are still here, still feeling. 

For those who are grieving, burnt out, or feeling somewhat out of sorts, music can often provide a space to embrace and express our emotions safely. Even on those occasions when therapy isn’t immediately available, music can offer a moment of relief, a sense of calm in the chaos, and often a sense of belonging. You don’t need to be a musician or analyse the lyrics; you just need to listen. It is one of the simplest ways we can care for ourselves, and one of the most profoundly effective.

Mind yourself,

Alan.