Music Therapy: A Self-Help Group Experience for Substance Abuse Patients

Abstract

Explores the use of music therapy in a program for drug and alcohol abuse patients in a private psychiatric hospital in New York City. After a 7–20 day detoxification period, patients (maximum of 52) are engaged in an intensive treatment program featuring psychotherapy, peer counseling self-help groups, individual counseling, vocational counseling, and therapeutic groups. Features of chemical addiction and the application of music to facilitate group process are outlined. Therapeutic behavior patterns typically seen in improvisation sessions that are beneficial to chemically addicted patients are described, and blocks to expression that can be met through the group process are discussed. The case example of a 26-yr-old dependent male is presented to illustrate the efficacy of music therapy in the treatment of substance abuse patients. (4 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)