The Importance of Music Therapy for Addiction Treatment
Board Certified Music Therapy services are offered at several Recovery Centers of America facilities. Aside from being able to connect with patients through various music experiences, music therapists enjoy working with patients on specific song selections about empowerment, healing, growth, courage and strength. On a rotating cycle, approximately every 5 weeks, both men and women in treatment at RCA partake in developing their life album. This consists of choosing specific songs for various stages in their life, childhood – adult, start of use, heaviest point of use, the decision to get help and their recovery song. Patients are asked to reflect on their life album and engage in an open discussion around how music impacts their life over the years in both positive and unhealthy ways.
Discovering that one song that no matter how chaotic the world can become or what we are feeling, makes us feel good! A song we can connect with, a song that we can sing with, a song that we can dance with. A song we can just ride down the road with the windows down and radio up and sing at the top of our lungs without a care in the world. That song is your recovery song! Plug it in and turn it up! Did you know…when we sing (even if you think your tone deaf) we release both endorphins and dopamine – happy feel good chemicals in the brain? We also release oxytocin. A few of the beautiful gifts of music .
We created a Spotifty list of recovery songs developed over a period of time from our patients at RCA. May you find comfort, hope and strength in these song selections.
Article by Amanda McEntergart, Music Therapist at Recovery Centers of America Bracebridge Hall
