“Music is a vessel for connection,” says Melinda Korte, MS, MT-BC, Senior Inpatient Allied Clinical Therapist at Penn Medicine Princeton House Behavioral Health. “The music and lyrics of these artists and many others come from a vulnerable yet empowering space that can express the feelings of the listener incredibly well. They reflect our experiences in a tangible way, helping us feel seen.”
Korte explains that neurobiology plays a large role in the process. As our bodies experience music, it simultaneously activates and connects parts of the brain, triggering memories and the senses. “There’s a lot happening under the surface that people don’t recognize,” she says. “This is why we might get goosebumps, sense heat, or feel intimately connected to those around us – and even to the performer – when listening to music.”
Korte notes that people spend a lot of time moving quickly through their feelings, but music provides the opportunity to stop, think, and breathe while being vulnerable and present. It can also create generational empathy, bringing people of all ages together.
“The history of music is essentially the history of humankind,” she adds. “Music is a storyteller that tracks history and the connections between generations.”
Music Therapy
Korte uses music in both the individual and group inpatient setting to complement care in several ways, including for emotional regulation and awareness, psychoemotional processing, and moving through past trauma. She also incorporates music making into therapy, from drumming to song writing.
Beyond the services of a music therapist, other behavioral health providers can tap into the power of music in these more general ways:
- Use lyrics from a favorite artist or song to find common ground in building rapport or as a jumping-off point for verbal processing.
- Invite patients to take journaling to the hearing sphere by selecting songs that stand out to them and reflecting on their meaning. You can also listen to and reflect on a patient’s favorite song together in session.
“In a profound way, music breaks down barriers to connection and creates awareness that can help build coping skills,” says Korte. “It can serve as an anchor that connects patients to hope, positivity, and empowerment, helping them draw more meaning from life.”
