Although each person’s experience with illness is different, their initial discomfort and concerns increase as the signs and symptoms of illness emerge. The path from illness to health moves past that initial onset state through the phases of diagnosis, acceptance, treatment, recovery, rehabilitation, and re-entry to the world of the healthy. AMTA-Pro podcast speakers, Dr. Suzanne Hanser and Jeniris González, overview of the role music therapy can play in each stage of the journey from the onset of illness to a new healthy identity. They also discuss some evidence-based music therapy strategies for the management of stress, pain, unpleasant symptoms, response to illness, and treatment side effects, while enhancing the quality of life.  The text section of this podcast provides resources and samples of songwriting and other interventions as well as templates for a music listening log, for songwriting, and for planning effective music interventions in each stage of the journey from illness to health.


Music Therapy in Journey from Illness to Health

AMTA-Pro Podcast 

March, 2015

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Suzanne Hanser

Suzanne Hanser, EdD, MT-BC

Jeniris

Jeniris M. González, MT-BC

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Examples of Music Therapy Interventions

Phase 1: First Signs and Symptoms

Breath work: Breathe deeply. Scan each part of your body. Breathe life-affirming air into each part.

Phase 2: Diagnosis

Mantra: Shema

Phase 3: Treatment

Examples of songs of hope: You’ll Never Walk Alone – Carousel musical, Don’t Stop – Fleetwood Mac, You Can Make It If You Try – Rolling Stones, Don’t Stop Believin’ – Journey, You Are Loved (Don’t Give Up) – Josh Groban, You Gotta Be – Des’ree, Keep Your Head Up – Andy Grammer, Let It Be – Beatles, Lean On Me – Bill Withers, Over the Rainbow – Wizard of Oz musical, Three Little Birds – Bob Marley, The Remedy – Jason Mraz.

Example of lyric substitution using Don’t Stop (Keep On)

Verse 1: If you wake up and ___________, If it’s hard to __________, Open your eyes and look at the day. You’ll see things in a different way.

Chorus: Keep on keeping on believing Keep on, you can make it through. It’ll be, better than before, Yesterday’s gone, yesterday’s gone.

Verse 2: Why not think about _______________, And not about ___________. So when you’re feeling down and blue, just think what tomorrow will do.

Phase 4: Recovery

Lyrics to song Try by Colbie Caillat work well in the recovery phase.

Phase 5: Health

Client songwriting example: Music Within the Noise

My life right now is pretty much on hold. My time is spent waiting to heal. I feel stuck on an island, watching others sail by,  Their lives moving forward while mine is still standing by.

Trying to find the music within the noise, the eye within the storm. A calm inside the tension. The peace inside the war.

What used to be easy is a struggle now. Everyday tasks a real challenge. Finding the focus is often elusive. Every day getting harder to manage.

Trying to find the music within the noise, the eye within the storm. A calm inside the tension. The peace inside the war

Chant Example: My Voice by Jeniris M. González

I sing to the world with my voice. My voice is the sound of the world. I sing to the world with my voice. My voice is the sound of the world.

I sing when I’m up and I sing when I’m down. Melody, rhythm, and song.
I sing when I’m up and I sing when I’m down. I sing to the world with my voice.

Click each template for a closer look.

Template for Songwriting

Music Plan Worksheet

Music Listening Log

References and Resources

Hanser, S.B.  (2014).  Music therapy in cardiac health care.  Cardiology in Review, 22(1), 37-42.

Hanser, S.B.  (2012).   Music therapy-based mechanisms for coping with stress and pain. Journal of Urban Culture Research, Special Issue 2012, 98-108.

Hanser, S.B., Bauer-Wu, S., Kubicek, L., Healey, M., Manola, J., Hernandez, M., & Bunnell, C.  (2006).  Effects of a music therapy intervention on quality of life and distress in women with metastatic breast cancer.  Journal of the Society for Integrative Oncology, 5(1), 14-23.

Hanser, S.B., & Mandel, S.E.  (2013).  Music therapy for pain management. In J.F. Mondanaro & G.A. Sara (Eds.),  Music and medicine:  Integrative models in the treatment of pain.  New York:  Satchnote Press.

BOOKS:
Hanser, S.B., & Mandel, S.E. (2010). Manage your stress and pain through music (Book & CD). Boston: Berklee Press.

Watch for upcoming book by S.B. Hanser:
Integrative Health through Music Therapy: Accompanying the Journey from Illness to Wellness. London: Palgrave-Macmillan.