Helping Teens Find Their Voice Through Creative Expression in Music Therapy
Music therapy is a powerful alternative or supplemental form of treatment for teens who have not experienced their desired outcomes from more traditional methods of therapy. In Nashville, a city known for its rich musical history and live music culture, music therapy offers a unique and creative avenue to healing and growth. It can be especially helpful for those who may not feel comfortable expressing themselves verbally. Because of music therapy’s deeply personal and adaptable nature, it supports creative expression, positive self-esteem, and a teen’s journey toward independence and self-care.
So how do we use music to help teens find their voice and build their own toolkit of coping skills to support good mental health? At Empower Music Therapy in Nashville, we’re passionate about helping teens explore the transformative power of music in ways that are meaningful and lasting. Here are some of our favorite approaches:
Songwriting
Songwriting can be exactly what the teens in our lives need to process through some of the more challenging emotions and moments in their lives and to foster positive self-esteem and independence.
One way we use songwriting in music therapy sessions is by taking a familiar song to the teen we are working with and removing some of the words so that they can make the song their own. The structure of the song form can support a new songwriter while allowing space for them to express themselves freely.
Lyrical
Blackout Poetry
Another form of song creation from preferred music is lyrical blackout poetry.
This activity entails printing or typing out the lyrics to a teen’s favorite song and marking out most of the words to leave a new poem, song, or statement with the words left over. Words can be changed or added to allow for the freedom to create the exact sentiment that the writer wishes to express.
Songwriting from Scratch
We can also write songs from scratch!
Songwriting from scratch may be the first type of songwriting a teen does, or it may be something that is introduced after participating in one of the first two examples of songwriting. In music therapy, the clinician may guide the process by asking different questions or helping the teen organize their thoughts for the song into different categories.
Improvisation
Improvisation is a wonderful way for teens to express themselves and find their voice through music therapy.
The therapeutic space creates a safe environment where teens can feel free to explore different musical sounds and expressions, through various instruments, vocalizations, and electronic devices. We may use card decks, like the Live Your Values deck or The Moth’s A Game of Storytelling deck, to inspire ideas or serve as a prompt for the improvisation session – or we may start with no prompt and see where we end up by the end of the improvisation. This is a great opener to self-expression and a way for teens to express themselves when they might not know how they are feeling in the moment.
Playlist Creation
Creating playlists can be a great way to build rapport with a teen client and to allow their personality and individual music taste to shine!
In music therapy sessions, we create playlists as a way to elevate mood, tell stories, or share about parts of ourselves through the songs we choose. We can create a playlist that exemplifies our personal values, tells the story of the first time we fell in love, share what freedom sounds like to us, or any other part of ourselves and our lives!
No matter musical preference or experience, teens across all backgrounds can find healing and empowerment through music. At Empower Music Therapy, we are honored to provide a safe and welcoming environment where teens in Nashville can discover their voices, grow their self-care toolkits, and begin the building blocks of good mental health that will be a guide for them throughout their lives.