Exercises
1 When have you found yourself creative? What did the experience feel like? What art forms, if any, were involved?
2 Different creative arts have blossomed during specific time periods; for example, visual art during the Renaissance in Florence. Which of the creative arts do you like best? What time period is most exciting for you with regard to this art?
3 How do you think you might use the SCAMPER model in your counseling practice? Which activity associated with the model (e.g., “substitute”) do you find most relevant to you?
Chapter 2 Music and Counseling
Harmony
The music of counseling varies in time from the soft sob of weeping to laughter’s staccato.Often the melody is found in the sound of feeling in voices and words rich in hope.Within each session is a symphony leading to inner harmony and possibly new movements.
—Gladding, 1991b/2003
Chapter Overview
From reading this chapter you will learn about
The importance to human health of music
The difference between music therapy and music in counseling
The way music is used with clients of different ages and in different settings across the life span
As you read, consider
Whether you have ever been moved by a piece of music
What your favorite type of music is and what it is about it that appeals to you
How you think music can affect the world for better or worse (be specific!)
Music is a universal multicultural experience that is respected, appreciated, and potent, with at least 15 countries recognizing its transformative abilities through having established their own music therapy associations (Grimmer & Schwantes, 2018). Music can serve as a bridge to the development of new insights, behaviors, and coping skills (J. M. Brown, 2001; Silverman, 2018). It is effective at altering moods in a positive direction, especially if it is self-selected and the individual doing the selection is not depressed (Garrido et al., 2016).
Music is most simply described as “the appreciation of sound” (Beaulieu, 1987, p. 13). Making music is a creative act, as is listening in an active way (Sackett & Edwards, 2020). Both involve being sensitive and responsive to the cacophony of rhythm that occurs spontaneously in nature and purposely in human interactions (Schneck & Berger, 2006). At its most basic level, music is a nonverbal medium. It has been used in various ways since the beginning of time to communicate and express feelings in a variety of ways (Duffey & Haberstroh, 2013; Gfeller, 2002b; Silverman, 2008). Indeed, many civilizations and people have been defined by the types of music they have developed (e.g., classical music) and the part that music has played in their lives. On a global level, some of today’s popular music is significant in creating a sense of cultural identity (e.g., hip-hop or rap). The following thought is attributed to Plato:
Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything.
Music creates an atmosphere either for better or for worse. Stimulating background music seems to detract from the formation of initial counseling interactions, whereas soothing music seems to promote interaction. A specific song or genre of music may cue an urge to use substances among individuals who are addicted (Dingle et al., 2015). However, music can also be a powerful adjunct in reducing depression and resolving generalized anxiety disorder (Esfandiari & Mansouri, 2014; Gutiérrez & Camarena, 2015). Music that is liked, regardless of one’s familiarity with it, is the most important factor in reducing anxiety (Jiang et al., 2016). Overall, music can elicit a wide range of mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual responses and is a fundamental component of many people’s lives.
Research on the effects of music is strong (Stephensen & Baker, 2016), and some studies indicate that music has the capacity to facilitate healing by influencing brain activity and creating and altering moods (Schweitzer, 2014). Music can facilitate the expression of emotions and reduce stress; it helps us tell our stories and process our experiences (Avent, 2016; Duffey, 2015). Music is used to capture attention, elicit memories, communicate feelings, and create a sense of community (Mandsager et al., 1997). It can help in the resolution of grief and abuse, increase intimacy between partners, be of assistance in identifying competing interests, and differentiate people (Duffey et al., 2001). Music is linked specifically with helping individuals convey thoughts and feelings, alter behaviors, and reduce unhelpful behaviors (Minor et al., 2013). Simply put, music is the soundtrack of our lives. William Styron (1990), the author of Sophie’s Choice, found music to be a lifesaver in his battle with depression and suicidal ideation. His experience is not unique.
Many populations who have been victims of abuse have developed distinct musical forms, such as Blacks’ creation of spiritual gospels and the blues. This type of music has provided an outlet for their individual and collective expressions of pain. Other groups have created different sounds that express the essence of their experiences and perceptions. In the United States the great diversity of sound includes rock and roll, bluegrass, hip-hop, rap, beach, jazz, country, classical, and big band music. An even wider variety of sound exists internationally, such as samba, reggae, and waltz.
Creative Reflection
What is your favorite type of music? How has it influenced your life? How do you think it might be therapeutic for you or for others?
According to Peters (2001), “Corporations such as MUZAK have made a business out of supplying background music to positively influence and regulate people’s moods and behaviors in offices, busi nesses,” and other environments (pp. 31–32). The influence of music in daily life is truly phenomenal. Even though people may not always remember lyrics, they seem to be influenced by “the beat, the rhythm, [and] the sound” of music they listen to regularly (A. White, 1985, p. 67). For many ordinary people, “music is the most significant experience in life” (Storr, 1992, p. 168).
Overall, music allows feelings to be revealed that may not be defined in words. In essence, music “is a form of communication analogous to speech in that it has cadences and punctuation” (D. Aldridge, 1989, p. 93). For example, new age music, which makes use of long themes and slow tempos, expresses a sentiment and affect that cannot be translated into a verbal equivalent. Music is seen as a therapeutic ally to verbal approaches to counseling because it links people together and gives them a common denominator (Rosenblatt, 1991).
In this chapter, I explore the multidimensional premise behind the power of music as well as the practical use of music in counseling. I distinguish between music therapy and the use of music in counseling. For instance, music therapy, which is much more formal, is the use of music within a therapeutic relationship to address physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of individuals. In addition, I explain and illustrate how music can be used with a
