At Eksa Pomeroy Integrative Counselling, I believe healing isn’t one-size-fits-all. True healing honours every part of you; your thoughts, emotions, body, and spirit. That’s why integrative counselling matters. It allows space for creative and holistic approaches that go beyond words. One such approach that we often weave into the therapeutic space is music.
Whether you’re humming under your breath, finding comfort in a familiar song, or simply letting a melody wash over you in silence, music has the capacity to touch places within us that words sometimes can’t reach.
Why Music Belongs in Therapy
Music has been part of human expression since the beginning of time. It soothes babies, brings people together, and helps us process joy, grief, love, and loss. In therapy, music can gently help us reconnect, with ourselves, with our emotions, and with the parts of us that may feel hidden or forgotten.
Sometimes we don’t know what to say, or perhaps we’ve said the same thing many times. Music can open up something new. It can speak for us, carry our story, or simply sit beside us when we don’t want to speak at all.
When Words Aren’t Enough
In my counselling room, I’ve seen time and again how a piece of music can soften anxiety, unlock tears, or stir a sense of hope. That moment when someone says, “That song gets me,” is powerful. It reminds us we’re not alone.
Music can also help when:
- Emotions feel stuck or overwhelming
- You’re living with anxiety, grief, or trauma
- You’re feeling disconnected from your body or inner self
- Talking feels too vulnerable or exhausting
By listening to, exploring, or even creating music together, we can find new pathways to healing.
How We Use Music in Our Work Together
Music is just one of many tools available in integrative counselling. If it feels right for you, we might explore:
- Mindful Listening – Sitting with a piece of music and noticing what comes up: emotions, memories, sensations.
- Lyric Work – Exploring lyrics that resonate with you, or writing your own as a way to express something hard to say.
- Relaxation & Grounding – Using soothing sounds or music to help your nervous system settle and feel safe.
- Creative Expression – Humming, tapping, drumming, or improvising if you’re drawn to hands-on connection with sound.
You don’t need to be “musical” or have any experience. This isn’t about performance—it’s about presence.
The Science Behind the Magic
Research shows that music affects the brain deeply. It stimulates areas involved in emotion, memory, movement, and even physical healing. It helps regulate the nervous system, lower stress hormones, and increase feel-good chemicals like dopamine and serotonin.
For those living with trauma, depression, or anxiety, this can make a tangible difference. Music creates a sense of safety and connection—within ourselves and in relationship with others.
Your Healing, Your Way
Some people bring playlists to sessions. Others find their healing in silence. Some hum quietly when they’re anxious, or share songs that say what they can’t. Every path is welcome.
If you’re curious about how music might support your healing, we can explore it together, gently, at your pace, and always with your full consent.
Thanks for reading my blog. Just want to pop in? That’s okay too.
If you feel drawn to pause for a moment, I invite you to listen to a song that often brings a deep breath and a gentle shift for many—
🎶 “Follow the Sun” by Xavier Rudd.
https://youtu.be/0E1bNmyPWww?si=isupS3DOGQkngs0p
Let the music find you wherever you are.