Why Music Facilitation?

This section covers:

  • Musicians in Recovery as SUD Music Facilitators
  • Benefits of Music-Centered Facilitation
  • Music-Centered Interventions/Group Sessions using Music Facilitators Active in Recovery (MFCs)
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Musicians in recovery that possess:

    • a basic understanding of clinical therapeutic methods and goals in addiction treatment and recovery; and
    • are living the experience in what it takes to maintain a solid recovery plan;

can be an invaluable asset and resource for treatment centers, detoxes and recovery based organizations wishing to incorporate music into their existing therapeutic modalities.

While these individuals are not Music Therapists, per say, MFCs can assist in developing and implementing successful music based interventions and group sessions.

Effective collaboration with staff, group organizers or private practitioners and working genuinely as a team is required, sharing goals and acknowledging the individual characteristics and tools the MFC can bring to the table.

It can be applied in intensive inpatient treatment programs, on an outpatient basis, in a group situation, and in nearly any other form of formal intervention.

Music can ease stress, help people relax, increase focus on recovery, bolster connections and help individuals who are having difficulty adjusting to the demands of recovery from substance use disorders.

Music can be used privately to enhance mood, help one forget the stressors of the day, and as a distraction technique to deal with cravings and other issues that are commonly encountered in recovery.

Music Facilitation is not designed to be a substitute for a formal substance use disorder treatment program. It is designed to enhance the effects of these programs.

Because Music Facilitation is a complementary treatment protocol, the MFC will consult and actively work to develop a formal therapeutic approach using music to address individual and group specific needs. These particular goals might include:

  • Enhancing emotional adjustment
  • Improving physical health and mental wellbeing by relieving stress
  • Developing communication skills
  • Focusing on the development of particular aspects of cognitive functioning, such as attention or memory
  • Shed the byproduct of isolation so prevalent in addiction
  • Promote a feeling of belonging through strength of recovery community

Clients may use music in a variety of ways. For example, they might use music to:

  • Deal with cravings, to reduce the effects of stressful situations
  • Deal with issues of remorse or regret regarding decisions the person has made in the past when they were under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol
  • Cope with negative emotions, such as guilt, anxiety, depression, or anger
  • Develop coping strategies to deal with future situations that may arise
  • Explore inner feelings regarding motivation or self-esteem
  • Enhance current mood or to relieve boredom
  • Struggling with emotions, letting go
  • Exploring how one thinks about asking for help
  • Manage the emotions that might come up from identifying mistakes
  • Emotions that present to stop from opening up to people
  • Different emotions to different coping skills
  • Emotions associated with forgiveness, forgiveness of self
  • Deal with Holiday stuff
  • Mood changing
  • Indentifying and following their dreams, both motivational and discouraging.
  • Deal with challenges, weaknesses, and strengths in recovery
  • Self compassion, show themselves kindness
  • Managing anxiety
  • Setting healthy boundaries