Therapeutic Music Program for the Treatment of Addiction

Therapeutic Music Program

for the Treatment of Addition

Dr. Harry Henshaw

Our Solutions Outpatient Program

Fort Lauderdale, Florida

I. Therapeutic Music Program for the Treatment of Addiction

Music has been used for many centuries to promote a sense of health, wellness and wellbeing. Music can be a very powerful alternative therapy for changing thinking, feelings, ones emotional state, behavior and even an individual's life. Music can help a person to experience deep relaxation and serenity, reduce the experience and effects of stress, promote a peaceful, restful sleep, and even begin to generate physical healing. When combined with other holistic therapies such as positive affirmations and hypnotherapy or hypnosis, music can also be used to help improve self-esteem and further personal growth and transformation in many areas of a person's life.

As a licensed psychotherapist and musician, I have developed a unique brand of therapeutic music that has been proven effective in helping a person experience a very deep state of relaxation, reduce stress and anxiety, improve sleeping and self-esteem. While the music was initially created for my counseling and hypnosis practice, it is currently being used at major residential treatment and detox centers to assist in the treatment of those suffering from drug and alcohol dependency. One therapeutic goal of the music is to help clients learn how to relax and as a result reduce their anxiety and stress. A second goal of music is to help addicts and alcoholics to improve their confidence and overall self-esteem.

Unlike some recordings that help promote a deep state of relaxation, my music does not necessarily need any type of special delivery system for it to be effective. While some programming relies on the use of specially designed music or serenity lounges, my music requires only a pair of quality headphones, a CD player, computer or cell phone and an ordinary bed or chair to be effective. The music can be used by anyone suffering from addiction. The music can also be used by any treatment program or facility as part of a client’s treatment protocol and by the same client when he or she leaves treatment. Due to the unique nature of the therapeutic music and the structure of the treatment session suggested, this is billable service to a client both in residential setting and on an outpatient basis.

II. The Structure of the Therapeutic Music:

Each musical recording has been uniquely designed to ensure that a person will experience a state of deep relaxation and ease. The music has two components to assist an individual in experiencing deep relaxation, in obtaining stress relief and in in promoting a peaceful, restful sleep. The first component of the recordings is the musical pattern itself. I have found that musical compositions that are harmonically slow, repetitious, with long, sustained voices, which are rhythmically, random in tempo will generate a deep state of relaxation. All of the music used in this therapeutic program utilizes this type of composition pattern.

The second component of the music is the use of the binaural audio tones or binaural beats that are interwoven into the very structure of the music. The binaural beats or tones, through a process referred to as "entrainment" or "frequency following", gently guides or directs the mind/body to generate more of the targeted frequency of brain wave activity whether it be for either a profound state of deep relaxation or a restful sleep. The recordings that are designed for deep relaxation contain binaural beats within the theta range while the recordings that are designed for sleep contains binaural audio tones within the delta range.

Our brains emit certain frequencies during the day, 24 hours a day. While we are awake, alert and working, our brain emits more energy in the beta range, at approximately 14 cycles per second. When we start to relax and even meditate our brains starts to produce more alpha frequencies, from 7 to 14 cycles per second. As we start to drift off to sleep our brain moves into the theta range, generating more 4 to 7 cycles per second. When we eventually go to sleep our brain is producing more delta frequencies than any other, between, 1 to 4 cycles per second. The music in this program utilizes theta frequencies, 5 cycles per second, for relaxation and stress reduction and delta frequencies, 1 cycle per second, sleep.

III. Therapeutic Goals of the Music

A. Goal One - Learn to Relax and Reduce Stress and Anxiety

An addict and alcoholic can have their stress and anxiety level significantly reduced by using the therapeutic music as it is prescribed. This lowering of stress will happen immediately, upon the first session. With repeated use of the music the person’s ability to effectively deal with anxiety and stress in everyday life will be greatly improved. What would once appear as causing a great deal of stress will now be dealt with in a calmer and more relaxed manner after using the music on a regular basis. In addition, when an addict or alcoholic's stress level and anxiety is reduced that person is much more able to work a program of recovery and be open to suggestions that will help to change his or her life. Furthermore, being able to have a restful, peaceful sleep will aid the individual both emotionally and physically. With a good night’s sleep the individual will better be able to participate in the treatment services being offered the next day. With a peaceful, restful sleep the person's body will also begin to heal itself.

B. Goal Two - Learn to Improve Self Esteem

Anyone suffering from chemical dependency can improve their self image by using the self-esteem recordings on a consistent basis. Self-esteem is something that is very important in everyone's life. A person's self esteem will affect every aspect of his or her life. Poor self-esteem is one of the major issues for those suffering from and being treated for substance dependency issues. Some believe that poor self-esteem is the most important issue that addicts and alcoholics must face and confront in treatment. An addict or alcoholic's poor self-esteem affects every part of their life, their thoughts, feelings, emotions and behavior. When an individual's self esteem improves that person will be better able and willing to take care of themselves by making decisions that are truly in their best interest and will stop doing self destructive behaviors. The self-esteem recordings combine specially chosen positive affirmations and the therapeutic music. It is the combination of these two components that makes these recordings powerful and a real tool for someone wanting to change how they think and feel about themselves.

IV. How to Use the Therapeutic Music and Positive Affirmation Recordings

A. Use by an Individual

It is suggested that a person start by listening to a recording designed for relaxation and especially a recording with the brief guided introduction. If a person wants to progress to working on his or her self-esteem, the self-esteem recording could be introduced in approximately one week. It is best to use the same musical composition on the self-esteem programming as was used for the initial relaxation recording.

For optimal use it is suggested that the individual listen to the recording everyday for thirty days.

Follow these steps when listening to the recordings:

1. Find a quiet, comfortable place to relax, one that is free from any distractions. The place could be lying on a bed or sitting in a chair.

2. Ensure that there is proper stereo separation by placing yourself between the left and right speakers. For optimal effect, you may want to use high quality stereo headphones.

3. Begin to listen to the recordings at a volume that is comfortable to you.

4. Close your eyes, take a few deep breaths, inhaling slowly and deeply and then exhaling slowly and completely and as you do so let all of the muscles in your body begin to relax. Continue to breath in this manner throughout the recording.

5. Visualize this calming, relaxed feeling moving from the top of your head to the tips of your toes and then slowly back up again.

6. Focus your attention only on the recording, on the music alone. If your mind wanders gently bring it back to listening to only the music.

7. If you wish you may also focus on your "Special Place", a place where you feel completely relaxed and at ease. Be there completely as you listen to the recording.

8. Listen to the recording until it ends. Then go about your day or to sleep if it is in the evening and you are listening to the sleep music. It is very important to use the music every day.

The beneficial effect of the music is enhanced and strengthened by repeated use, by listening to the recordings everyday. Ideally, you should use the music at a scheduled time during the day, in the morning, for example, or at night when going to bed or even both. You can also use the music anytime during the day when you feel especially stressed and the need to relax.

B. Use by an Individual in a Treatment Program

Using the therapeutic music recordings within a treatment program setting is very similar to its use by an individual.

The suggestion is to start out with the recordings for relaxation and stress reduction and if desired to go to the self esteem recordings after one week.

For optimal effect, it is suggested that the individual listen to the recordings daily.

It is further suggested that when an individual listens to the recordings while in treatment that the person have the opportunity to process the experience with a counselor or therapist one or two times a week.

Even though the individual may not have the opportunity to experience and process the recordings in the presence of a therapist or counselor on a daily basis, it is important that the client have the ability to listen to the recordings daily, in their room at night or when they have free time during the treatment day. Access to the recordings through the internet is part of this program.

It is important to note that the client will have the opportunity to continue listening to the recordings when he or she is discharged from the treatment program. The client should be encouraged to continue listening to the recordings when he or she leaves a treatment program.

Documentation and billing instructions are available for those programs that want to charge for this service.

V. Therapeutic Music Treatment Programs

The therapeutic music treatment program currently has 24 recordings. 18 of the recordings are for relaxation and stress reduction. 6 of the recordings are for improving self-esteem.

Each recording is 40 minutes in length. Each treatment session is approximately 60 minutes in length. Each treatment session has ten minutes of counseling and training (that is, breathing exercises, relaxation techniques, etc.), 40 minutes of music treatment and 10 minutes of processing and evaluation. At the end of each session the client is asked to evaluate the session and to share what he or she learned from the session.

Each treatment program is complete. All of the programs start with the therapeutic music and the guided introduction. The client can continue with the relaxation and stress reduction goal and eventually will graduate to listening to just the music alone. If the client selects to also work on improving his or her self-esteem, he will begin to listen to the positive affirmation recording after about one week. As the music is the same within each program, the client will eventually be able to listen to the music alone and as a result continue to receive both the relaxation and positive affirmation benefits of the programming.

Updates to the programming will be made on a regular basis.

A. Fantasia Program