Healing to the Sound of Music

Peninsula Uses Music in Therapy Activities to Help Behavioral Patients

When most people envision therapy, images of someone lying on a couch in an office or people sitting in folding chairs in a group circle may come to mind. However, therapy can occur in many forms, including using music activities such as patients participating in a drum circle. Studies have shown that music can have a positive effect on mental health.

To the Beat of the Drum

Twice a week in a Peninsula Hospital classroom, children and adolescents or adults in inpatient programs sit in front of West African drums or hold another musical instrument for a private group session that uses music in therapy. Carol Villaverde, a music educator and group leader, guides the patients in active music-making and listening. The music activities are funded by Fort Sanders Foundation, which provides charitable support for programs and services across Covenant Health.

Villaverde helped develop Peninsula’s music program after 15 years in public and private school settings. After teaching music classes from pre-kindergarten to 12^th grade, she left teaching to learn how to use music in therapeutic ways. She’s currently working on sound therapy certification through the American Society of Sound Therapy. At Peninsula, Villaverde sees the opportunity to use her background of teaching and sound therapy to make an impact.

Striking the Right Chord

Villaverde works with a wide range of music in therapy sessions. The music helps teach valuable life lessons that aid patients in their recovery. Whether struggling with substance abuse, family issues, emotional instability or medication management, every participant can learn from each lesson.

During the private group therapy sessions, “we use music to talk through various lessons that can carry over into our daily lives,” said Villaverde. “We examine song lyrics to discuss themes like the give-and-take of life, coping skills, identifying emotions, and more.”

For example, she explains how lyrics for different songs can initiate discussions with patients about topics such as:  

• Bravery and courage — How patients can practice those concepts and build a sense of self-worth through self-awareness and positive affirmations.
• What we have the power to change and what we don’t — How patients can approach these situations in daily life,
• Inspiring hope — Learning that life includes seasons of both light and darkness. By reminding patients that their situation is a season of life, Villaverde discusses how to work through challenges and grow from a period of darkness.

“With youth, we use things like picture books, guided imagery and mood wheels to help figure out where they are. This helps identify what song matches the mood. We find songs for each mood that aid in the transition of one mood to another,” said Villaverde. “This can help the patients learn new emotions, how to talk about their feelings, and how to experience moods and transitions between moods in healthy ways.”

Jack Moran, activity coordinator for Peninsula, works with Villaverde to determine how to best engage patients and facilitate conversations during sessions using music in therapy. This engagement can help identify topics that need to be discussed with a specific patient in their individual therapy session.

Creating Harmony

Villaverde and Moran both emphasize that there is therapeutic power in music activities.

“After every session, the patients always tell me how they enjoyed it. I’ve seen through their eyes or facial expressions that they found [the experience] therapeutic,” said Moran. “For some who previously knew how to play an instrument, experienceing music in therapy can remind them of their time playing. They want to go back to it to help with their coping after therapy ends. Other kids are going to ask their parents for an instrument to continue pursuing the lessons they learned. It’s really inspiring and rewarding to witness because that’s the goal — to help them heal.”

“Music is an equalizer. Everyone is there to just enjoy the time, and I’m there to share a great experience with them,” said Villaverde. “Our hope is that they experience some joy during music in therapy and learn that it’s OK not to be OK — it’s part of the journey of life. If there are mental health benefits along the way, it’s a win-win.”

To learn more about Peninsula’s services, visit CovenantHealth.com/Peninsula or call 865-970-9800.