Active Music Therapy’s Application in India versus Psychotherapy

Music has been used therapeutically for centuries, but only recently in treatment of mental health issues. Music therapy is defined by Bruscia as a “systematic process of intervention wherein the therapist helps the client to promote health, using music experiences and relationships that develop through them.” Music Therapy varies cross culturally. In India it is mainly used in connection to religion through chanting and faith healing. It hasn’t yet been considered at a broader scope such as in Neurologic Music Therapy or Psychoanalytic Music Therapy which are used in other countries. In this review, we consider the efficacy of music therapy in the Indian Context in relation to treatment of psychiatric disorders, especially as psychotherapy is still not widely accepted by the Indian Subcontinent. It is also not effective in all cases.