Hypnosis and 'heavy metal': musical modalities for treating trauma

Journal of Heart Centered Therapies, Autumn, 2005 by Megan Elizabeth Cassano

According to the "Affective Music" study, it was concluded that the majority of the 100 participants associated 'Rock' and 'Dance' music with feelings of happiness. 'Easy Listening' music seemed to be the type that evoked the most sadness. 'Heavy Metal' music appeared to make people feel the angriest. Participants of the African American population predominantly associated 'R&B' music with both happy and sad feelings. 'Rap' music seemed to evoke the most anger. The Hispanic population related happy feelings to 'Dance' music, sad feelings to 'Easy Listening' music and angry feelings to 'Heavy Metal' music. The Caucasian population predominantly related happy feelings with 'Rock' music, sad feelings with 'Easy Listening' music and angry feelings with 'Heavy Metal.' Men generally related happy feelings to 'Rock' music, sad feelings to 'Easy Listening' music and angry feelings to both 'Heavy Metal' and 'Rap' music. Women primarily related happy feelings with 'Rock' music, sad feelings to 'Easy Listening' music and angry feelings to 'Heavy Metal.'

Treatment Modality 1:

Hypno-Music Introduction. Applying musical treatment methods to the subconscious mind for the purposes of decrypting hidden feelings

Case example

In the first session using music, a client with Bi-Polar disorder was initially asked to consciously describe the feelings of anger that she had been experiencing. Being unable to identify anything concrete, she was asked (still in her conscious mind) to listen to a song that she had never heard before. The angry lyrics of this particular song happen to be extremely difficult to understand. Upon the song's completion, when asked if it had evoked any feelings, the client stated she wasn't really feeling anything remarkable, nor was she able to adequately understand the words. The author then guided the client into hypnosis. While the client was in a trance, the song was played a second time. The client was immediately able to retrieve angry feelings that she had subconsciously been directing toward herself. After extinguishing the anger, the client was guided back to her favorite place to find peace before she was brought out of the hypnotic trance and back into the room.

Post-session, as the client was processing the emotional afterglow of what her subconscious mind had brought to her attention, she was asked if she could remember anything about the song. Not only had she been able to understand the song in its entirety while under hypnosis, but she was also able to consciously recall specific lyrics. The lyrics that she was able to remember acted as direct messages from her subconscious mind, highlighting the issues that still needed to be addressed in further sessions. These connections were essential to her understanding of what she ultimately needed to do to heal.

This example suggests two main theories. First, that the subconscious mind is clearly able to decipher words, phrases and context that the conscious mind simply cannot (or that it is not yet prepared to handle). Second, the subconscious mind will offer to the conscious mind pieces for further processing, post-hypnosis. In this case example, the lyrics that the client was able to recall included words such as "bury me in fear" and "I don't want to be here anymore." These phrases clearly correlate to the feelings of self-hatred that came up for her during the session. The lyrics that resonate with people while in their subconscious minds are ones that represent the very issues that they are at war with. This treatment modality is very effective with helping clients to gain some insight and clarity into the roots of their feelings. Additionally, this initial, more transitory session gives clients a taste of what hypnosis feels like and usually relieves many apprehensions. This quenching of fears can encourage positive feelings about advancing the work in subsequent sessions.