Effect of Virtual Music Therapy (MT) Intervention
| Theme | Representative Quotes |
|---|---|
| A Sense of Calm and Comfort | “Like how you do this therapy with the breathing, when you play the guitar, it’s really soothing and relaxing.” “So it just brings me back to a place of inner calm and peace, any time I listen to you play, because it's a comfort thing.” “I was going a thousand miles an hour trying to worry about all sorts of stuff, so it’s very helpful to slow down, be present in the moment. The music helps, it definitely does.” “It was soothing. I really felt relaxed; and the quietness and the music blended everything. I felt like I was floating.” “It really calms me down, especially if I had a bad day.” “So it was cool to know and feel that I felt safe, at the present moment, here, in my new house. That was awesome.” “This was a great session today guys, really lifted my spirits.” “Just listening and thinking: it was a really good, de-stressing thing. So it definitely helped my mood.” “It really put a smile on my face. I was looking forward to it and I was happy.” |
| A Means of Self-Care | “I’ll play music, and it calms me and centers me. That’s something that I’ve found really helpful over the last couple weeks.” “I’m more in tune with how [music] can be beneficial.” “The ability to recognize that I’m in an amped up emotional state. And having one more tool to deescalate or down regulate. Having that extra tool to be, like, alright, play some soft music, breathe, slow down, is helpful.” “Finding different ways: whether it was a breathing exercise, or turning on the music, it just gave me different outlets that I could de-stress.” “It's really soothing. Like, I get stressed out about something, I typically will turn to music and I'll put on my acoustic, chill music because I think there's something calming while listening to the guitar strings.” |
| Decreased Cravings | “I don't drink at the time when I'm doing [MT]. And I don't have the desire to when I am listening to the music.” “Knowing that, at that time, I wouldn't be drinking.” “Knowing I was going into the group, that was comforting, so my cravings were lessened.” “The one substance that I was trying to get help around my usage, yes it did help with that.” “I try to use these MT sessions as a foundation that I've been really working on cutting back. So I crave it not as much as I used to - but I still definitely crave it - but I've been working really hard not to indulge in it.” |