Last Updated on January 11, 2026 by Cindy Benezra
Healing after trauma is a journey that requires safe spaces, supportive practices, and often tools that reach beyond words. For many survivors, traditional talk therapy is an important step, but it may not be enough on its own. Trauma affects the body, mind, and emotions in ways that language cannot always capture. The founder of psychodrama, Jacob Levy Moreno, says it this way, “The body remembers what the mind forgets.”
It is with this goal in mind, of reaching the trauma store in our bodies, that expressive arts therapy becomes a powerful companion in recovery. By engaging in creativity, whether through visual art, writing, movement, drama, or sound, survivors can begin to process experiences in new and deeper ways. Among the many approaches, music therapy stands out as one of the most effective methods for calming the nervous system, expressing unspoken feelings, and restoring joy.
What Is Expressive Arts Therapy?
Expressive arts therapy is an integrative form of therapy that uses multiple creative practices to support emotional and psychological healing. It can include visual arts, writing, movement, drama, poetry, and music in a therapeutic setting, guided by a trained professional.
Unlike an art class or a performance, expressive arts therapy is not about producing a polished product. Instead, it’s about using creativity as a pathway to expression, self-awareness, and recovery. For survivors of trauma, this approach provides a safe, compassionate environment where healing can happen without the pressure of “finding the right words.”
Why Music Therapy Matters in Expressive Arts Therapy
Music therapy is the prescribed use of music to create changes in the psychological, physical, cognitive, or social functioning of individuals with health or educational problems (American Music Therapy Association, 2014; Wheeler, 2014). Music activates multiple parts of the brain at once, including areas responsible for memory, emotion, and physical regulation. Because of this, it can bypass the blocks that trauma often creates and open new pathways for healing.
In a therapeutic setting, music can be used in many ways, such as listening, singing, playing instruments, drumming, or even writing songs. Each approach allows survivors to connect with sound in a way that feels safe and meaningful.
Benefits of Music Therapy for Trauma Survivors
Music is more than entertainment; it is a therapeutic tool that helps regulate, release, and restore. Here are some of the most impactful ways music therapy supports trauma recovery within the broader field of expressive arts therapy:
1. Nervous System Regulation
As a way of self-preservation, trauma often leaves survivors in a heightened state of alertness. Steady rhythms, like drumming or heartbeat-like patterns, can help regulate breathing and heartbeat, signaling safety to the body. This, in turn, lowers cortisol levels, which creates the right environment for processing and healing.
2. Emotional Expression Without Words
For those who find talking about trauma overwhelming, music provides a non-verbal outlet. A melody or drumbeat can express anger, sadness, or relief without needing explanation.
3. Safe Connection and Community
Group music therapy, such as drumming circles or singing sessions, fosters a sense of connection and belonging. Shared rhythm builds trust and reminds survivors that they are not alone.
4. Restoring Joy and Playfulness
Trauma can strip away joy. Engaging with music brings back moments of creativity, play, and pleasure, essential elements of recovery.
5. Integration of Mind and Body
Because music engages both physical rhythm and emotional processing, it helps survivors reconnect with their bodies in a safe way, promoting balance and mindfulness. Active music bypasses words, reconnecting clients with bodily presence. It also helps with event integration, helping traumatic memories surface and become emotionally and cognitively processed.
What Happens in a Music Therapy Session?
Each music therapy session looks different depending on the individual’s needs and comfort level. Some survivors may simply listen to calming songs with guidance from the therapist, while others may actively participate in creating or performing music.
A typical session may include:
- Listening exercises – exploring how different songs affect mood and memories.
- Instrument play – using drums, guitars, or simple percussion to release energy.
- Songwriting – creating lyrics that tell one’s story in symbolic or metaphorical ways.
- Improvisation – making spontaneous sounds or rhythms to express emotions.
- Vocalization – singing, humming, or toning to strengthen self-expression.
The focus is never on performance quality; it’s on the process of expression, reflection, and healing.
Research on Music Therapy and Trauma
Studies consistently show the benefits of music therapy for trauma survivors. Research highlights include: Landis-Shack et al. (2017), Ma et al. (2024), Wang et al. (2024), and Alexandre et al. (2025).
- Reduced PTSD symptoms – Music therapy has been useful in lowering anxiety, nightmares, and hypervigilance.
- Improved emotional regulation – Survivors gain tools for calming intense emotions.
- Enhanced brain function – Music stimulates memory, language, and emotional processing centers.
- Better sleep and relaxation – Guided music interventions promote rest and lower stress hormones.
- Increased resilience – Survivors report greater hope, confidence, and sense of agency.
These findings confirm what survivors often feel firsthand, that music has the power to shift energy, soothe pain, and open doors to recovery. These findings affirm what many trauma survivors intuitively know—music can gently hold pain, transform emotional energy, and create a safe space for healing and change.
How Music Therapy Complements Other Expressive Arts Therapies
While music therapy is powerful on its own, it often works best when combined with other expressive arts therapies. For example:
- Visual arts therapy – Drawing or painting while listening to music can help externalize emotions.
- Dance and movement therapy – Pairing rhythm with movement deepens the mind-body connection.
- Drama therapy – Music and storytelling together allow survivors to reframe experiences.
- Writing therapy – Journaling or poetry inspired by song lyrics helps organize and release emotions.
Together, these therapies create a holistic healing approach that honors the many ways trauma impacts a survivor’s life.
Who Can Benefit from Music Therapy and Expressive Arts Therapy?
Both music therapy and expressive arts therapy are accessible for people of all ages, including children, teens, and adults. They are especially supportive for survivors of:
- Childhood trauma and abuse
- PTSD and complex trauma
- Domestic violence or sexual assault
- Loss and complicated grief
- Anxiety, depression, or chronic stress
Because these therapies focus on expression rather than verbal processing, they are ideal for individuals who struggle to put their feelings into words. In addition, for survivors whose trauma lives beneath the surface, creative arts therapies offer more than expression. They become gentle, intuitive tools that can bypass words and reach into internalized experiences.
Getting Started with Music Therapy and Expressive Arts Therapy
If you are curious about exploring these therapies as part of your healing journey, here are some steps:
- Work with a certified therapist – Seek out board-certified music therapists (MT-BC) or licensed expressive arts therapists trained in trauma-informed care.
- Start small at home – Listen to calming playlists, sing, or experiment with rhythm using simple instruments.
- Explore community groups – Many organizations offer drumming circles, songwriting workshops, or expressive arts sessions that build both creativity and community.
- Give yourself permission – You don’t need musical skills to benefit. Healing comes from the process, not performance.
Final Thoughts
Healing after trauma is all about reclaiming safety, voice, and joy. Expressive arts therapy provides a compassionate framework for this process, and among these, music therapy has proven especially powerful in achieving these goals.
Through rhythm, melody, and sound, survivors discover new ways to express their emotions, regulate their nervous systems, and reclaim hope. Whether listening quietly to calming music, drumming with others, or writing lyrics that tell their story, survivors find that music therapy opens a path toward healing that words alone cannot reach.
