‘Music reached a part of him that words no longer could’

The first time I truly grasped the power of music was during a 'Singing for the Brain' session. A gentleman who had lost his ability to speak due to dementia sat quietly; distant and disengaged. But as soon as I began to sing a familiar war time tune, something incredible happened – his fingers tapped along, his expression changed, and then he began to hum. 

The following week, we handed him his beloved saxophone and when I started to play his favourite jazz piece on the keyboard, to everyone's amazement, he played along. The music had reached a part of him that words no longer could. It was in that moment, I understood that music was not just something I loved – it was a bridge to connection, empowerment, and healing.

I have been lucky enough to see how music transcends language and cognitive barriers, offering a unique way to communicate, express emotions, and foster social connections. It has been shown to reduce stress, enhance memory, and support emotional regulation, making it an invaluable tool in psychological practice. Whether used in therapy, community interventions, or personal reflection, music has the power to heal, empower, and bring people together in ways that conventional approaches sometimes do not.

This led me to consider that our hobbies and interests are not just leisure activities; they are integral to who we are as people and practitioners. I have found that my passion for music has not only enriched my life but deeply influenced my psychological practice. Likewise, my understanding of Psychology has guided the way I use music to support and empower others. Whether through facilitating memory recall in older adults, nurturing self-esteem in children, or creating a healing space for survivors of abuse, I have seen firsthand how music can be a powerful tool for psychological growth and transformation.

Empowerment through music 

As an aspiring Clinical Psychologist, I am drawn to roles that embrace compassion and creativity. My goal is to empower people, helping them recognise their worth and take control of their wellbeing. I have been lucky enough to lead music-based interventions and community-led musical activities to provide individuals with avenues for expression, connection and healing. 

I knew that empowerment had been conceptualised as a motivational state that encompasses four key dimensions: meaning, impact, self-determination, and competence (Spreitzer et al. 1997), but I now understand that what it is to be empowered will look different to everyone. To me, empowerment is when people feel a sense of agency, belief in their abilities, and the meaningfulness of their actions. I've seen how music, as a universal and deeply personal experience, offers a route to achieving these outcomes. 

During the Covid-19 pandemic, I often found myself thinking about the people I had met through my delivery of Singing for the Brain sessions with the Alzheimer's Society. I recognised that the pandemic was isolating for us all but knew that, for some, our time singing together had provided their only opportunity to leave the house or socialise. As soon as I was able, I decided to set up my 'Music with Meg' sessions to bring together older adults, those with memory conditions or people who were lonely in my local community. 

It was here that I met a man who no longer recognised his family with ease, but adored singing. He would often be waiting in the doorway when I arrived, and I was told that he asked daily 'when are we going to be singing again?' He loved musicals and when we sang a song from My Fair Lady and he turned to his sister and said 'Mary, this is our favourite'. The joy on Mary's face at this fleeting moment of recognition was unforgettable. I learned here that music can truly serve as a cognitive and emotional anchor, resonating with our personal histories and triggering autobiographical memories. 

Similarly, I recall a lady who attended sessions with her husband. Music, she shared, had always been a big part of his life and remained something that kept him going as his memory faded. When he sadly passed away, she continued to attend each week. At first, she wasn't sure how it would feel to sing without him, but over time she began to join in with confidence, finding comfort in familiar melodies. She spoke about how the sessions helped her feel closer to him, but now also gave her something of her own to look forward to. 'I never thought I'd enjoy going out again,' she said one afternoon, 'but now I do'.

These experiences reinforce the idea that music can transcend cognitive decline, reawakening emotional and relational connections by engaging the multiple brain regions involved in auditory, emotional, cognitive and motor control. Engaging in musical activities has been shown to enhance working memory of older adults, evoke memories and facilitate connection by stimulating grey matter population in these key brain regions despite cognitive deterioration. I feel grateful to have used my love of music to help people reconnect with their memories, maintain communication and experience joy. 

Building confidence and compassion through Musical Theatre

Beyond working with adults, I have used music to support the emotional and social development of children. As the musical director of a children's musical theatre society and a singing teacher at a performing arts school, I create spaces where young people can develop self-esteem, resilience, and self-expression. 

I think of a boy who joined the society among 20 girls – a daunting experience for any teenager. He was quiet, a little unsure, but eager to be a part of something new. He auditioned for the lead role, but a lack of confidence and experience held him back, so was cast in the ensemble. Instead of stepping away, he embraced the challenge, showing up each week with quiet determination. Through the structure of rehearsals, the camaraderie of the group, and the creative outlet that performance provided, his confidence began to grow. Encouragement helped him discover a love for dance, and with each step, his self-belief strengthened. 

This transformation can be understood through Bandura's concept of self-efficacy – the belief in one's ability to succeed in specific situations. I watched as this boy engaged in rehearsals and received positive reinforcement which fostered his confidence and ability to visualise success. Structured musical activities provide a sense of autonomy, competence, and relatedness, all of which are fundamental to intrinsic motivation and psychological wellbeing. Musical theatre became more than just a hobby; it gave him a sense of belonging, a safe space to develop resilience, and a way to express himself. Now, he steps into lead roles with skill and assurance – a testament to the power of the musical theatre in fostering confidence and emotional wellbeing.

I value compassion, and hope to one day pursue research that explores self-compassion as a therapeutic tool. I started to apply self-compassion models to my musical groups by incorporating compassion circles, where children are encouraged to recognise their strengths and celebrate each other's achievements. We recently put on a production of The Wizard of Oz and before each performance we gathered to share positive affirmations about ourselves and our peers. Hearing the children declare statements like 'I am talented' or 'I am a good friend' filled me with pride, knowing that our time together had nurtured them to be more self-compassionate and develop a kind inner voice. 

I find it compelling that storytelling through song and movement helps children process emotions in an engaging and natural way, while the communal aspect of theatre fosters belonging, independence and confidence that extends to other areas of life (Dalila & Handayaningrum, 2023; Selmani, 2024). 

The survivor choir: Reclaiming voices through song

My passion for music and Psychology led me to establish a survivor choir while working as a domestic abuse practitioner for West Mercia Women's Aid. Survivors of domestic abuse have often experienced a loss of control and identity, and I envisioned the choir as a safe, empowering space where women could reclaim both. Singing in a group has been shown to restore a sense of agency, encourage self-expression, and build emotional regulation – all vital for individuals recovering from coercive control (Fancourt & Finn, 2019). It is special to me that a choir is a way in which those who have experienced domestic abuse can physically reacquaint with the power of their own voice. 

I have watched women who had spent years feeling silenced grow in confidence. I recall our initial meetings when people were hesitant to take up space or be heard, where, for some, the singing was barely above a whisper. Over time, as we stood beside one another with shared understanding, every voice grew stronger. 

I deeply value trauma-informed approaches and knew that the choir should embody the trauma-informed power of music in healing. These approaches emphasise safety, choice, collaboration and empowerment, and music provides an outlet for individuals to process trauma in a way that feels manageable and expressive rather than overwhelming and clinical. As a result, the choir is a collaborative effort shaped by the voices of its members rather than imposed upon them. It has become a sisterhood where women can connect, heal, and rediscover their strength through music. 

We were lucky enough to weave many stories into melody by commissioning an original song to celebrate the 40^th Anniversary of West Merica Women's Aid. The song is entitled 'Still Strong' and as we reach the penultimate section, voices swell to sing: 'Still going, still growing, still dancing, still strong.' Each time we sing these together, a message of resilience and hope echoes through the room. For many of us, those lyrics have become more than just words – they are a declaration of survival, a shared promise that no matter what we had endured, we were not alone. Singing them together remains a way of transforming difficult experiences into something beautiful, something loud, something ours. 

We recorded the song and created a documentary video which followed the journey of the choir from creation to performing at the 40^th Anniversary event. The documentary song and clip are available to watch online here and includes testimonies and insight into the experience people have had within the choir.

The choir has gone from strength to strength and continues to provide a safe space for expression. Members now sign themselves up to perform at events for International Women's Day and White Ribbon Day. To me, this underscores the choir's role not just as a musical endeavour but as a transformative, trauma-informed intervention.

Passion shapes practice 

Psychology is an expansive field that allows each of us to carve out our own path, shaped by our interests and values. What I love about this is the ability to tailor our development in ways that are meaningful and authentic to us. 

However, I recently realised that I undervalue my musical endeavours as relevant to my professional development. It was only when a Clinical Psychologist encouraged me to include these experiences in my doctorate application that I recognised their significance not only to my pursuit of a career in Psychology, but in who I am as a person. I have come to realise that, for me, music is not separate from my work in Psychology – it is an extension of it.

I encourage fellow psychologists and aspiring practitioners to embrace their passions. I've learned to celebrate what matters to me and how this sets me apart in my pursuit of further training in Psychology, now knowing that the most effective interventions are often those that feel the most authentic.