Where Words Fail, Let Music Speak: Using Music as a Tool in Counseling Sessions

If you’ve spent any time in a therapy room, you’ve probably had at least one session where the conversation feels… sparse. You ask a question. The client shrugs. You offer a gentle prompt. They respond with, “I don’t know.” You know it's not resistance—the words just don't seem to be there.

In practicing both counseling and music therapy, I have noticed an interesting phenomenon: many clients share emotions more freely in music therapy than they do in counseling. This seems to be especially true of clients who have experienced trauma. Upon further research, I found a scientific basis for this observation: Extreme stress disrupts the way that the brain integrates memories, as processing shifts to survival mode. Increased activation of the amygdala, altered functioning of the hippocampus, and decreased activation of Broca's area result in memories that are

fragmented, sensory-based, and often encoded nonverbally.

Music can offer an entry through the side door to assist in processing these nonverbal memories. This is due to the fact that music has the unique ability to engage widespread networks across the brain simultaneously—including the auditory cortex, limbic system, motor cortex, and prefrontal cortex—rather than relying on language centers alone. Research suggests that this broad activation supports emotional processing, memory integration, and neural connectivity, creating conditions that promote neuroplasticity. Essentially, music provides a pathway to experiences that are felt before they are spoken.

Before getting into specific approaches, it’s important to understand the distinc

tion between music therapy and the use of music in counseling. The American Music Therapy Association defines music therapy as “the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional who has completed an approved music therapy program.” In counseling, talking is often the primary mode of treatment and communication. In music therapy, music itself serves that role. The music isn’t simply supportive—it's the intervention.

Music therapists receive specialized training in music theory, music history, instrument proficiency, and music therapy methods, among many other areas. While this training is essential for practicing music therapy, it is not required for counselors who want to thoughtfully incorporate music into their sessions as a supportive tool. So let’s talk about how you can harness the power of music in therapy—even without any prior musical experience.

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Using Music in Counseling Sessions: Practical Ideas

Make Music Part of the Question (and Answer)

Incorporating music into counseling sessions can begin as early as the intake process. Balancing deeper clinical questions with lighter prompts—such as “What do you like to do for fun?”—often creates a natural opening to discuss music, and many clients introduce the topic themselves. Asking about music preferences and how music fits into daily life helps establish a foundation for incorporating music into sessions later on.

When conversation stalls or a client responds with “I don’t know,” bringing music into the conversation can provide an alternative entry point. Asking "Is there a song that could describe how you're feeling?" shifts the focus from finding words to describe an experience to letting the music do the talking. More than once, I’ve seen visible relief on a client’s face, followed by a quick answer—and a song already pulled up on their phone. To take this a step further, I’ve also asked clients to assign songs to different life events when creating timelines for EMDR processing, using music as a way to access meaning and emotion when words are hard to find.

Take a Pause to Listen

Silence in the therapy room can be uncomfortable—for both clients and counselors. There is often an understandable urge to fill the space, to keep the session moving, or to find that perfect question to take the conversation deeper. Yet at times, what clients need most is not another prompt, but permission to simply be.

Intentional music listening can create that space. Used thoughtfully, music offers a structured pause that supports grounding and mindfulness practices without requiring verbal effort. For this reason, keeping a small bluetooth speaker on hand in your office can be helpful. Music provides a container for presence, helping clients stay connected to the moment when silence alone may feel overwhelming.

Dive Into the Lyrics

While music listening supports grounding and present-moment awareness, it can also open the door to deeper reflection. Once a client feels settled, shifting attention to lyrics offers a natural next step—moving from regulation into meaning-making. Discussing lyrics allows clients to engage with language that already exists, reducing the pressure to find the “right” words while still supporting insight, values exploration, and emotional expression. It can be helpful to have the lyrics printed out, so that clients can underline and highlight.

Ask questions such as:

• What do you think this song is about?

• How do you think the person who wrote this song was feeling when they wrote it?

• How do you feel when you hear this song?

• What does this song make you think of?

• What lines stand out to you?

• What lines do you relate to?

• Which lines do you agree/disagree with?

The Personal Soundtrack (+Download Below)

Once clients begin engaging with lyrics in this way, it often becomes clear that music already plays an important role in how they make sense of their experiences. Building on this, a personal soundtrack activity offers a broader way to explore identity, emotion, and narrative over time. Rather than focusing on a single song, clients are invited to reflect on how different pieces of music represent different parts of their lives, creating a musical snapshot of who they are and what they’ve been through.

For some clients, this task requires very little prompting. Others may appreciate a little more direction. This activity can be offered as a structured exercise or a more open-ended reflection, depending on the client’s needs and therapeutic goals. Clients may be given complete freedom in their selections, or the activity can be guided with prompts such as songs that represent family members, anger, sadness, anxiety, happiness, school or work, or different stages of life.

Once the soundtrack is created, clients can be invited to reflect on why certain songs

were chosen, what memories or emotions they associate with them, and how their musical preferences may have shifted over time. These reflections can be explored further in session and revisited in future work as new themes emerge. This activity can also support emotional regulation and coping outside the therapy room, as many clients already use music to manage their mood. Creating a personal soundtrack helps make that process more intentional and encourages clients to use music as a supportive resource in their daily lives.

See below for a downloadable worksheet to support this activity!

Soundtrack of My Life.pdf

Download PDF • 32KB

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You don't have to be a trained musician to incorporate music meaningfully into counseling sessions. When used thoughtfully, music can support expression, regulation, and connection—often meeting clients where words feel out of reach. Sometimes, it’s simply a way to help the conversation begin—no instruments required.