Music as a Path to Healing

Numerous studies explore the impact of music on our health. Have you ever noticed how a favorite song can instantly lift your mood, trigger happy memories, or help you unwind? Research has shown that listening to music can activate brain regions and boost dopamine levels.

Throughout history, music has served as a powerful form of emotional expression and communication. The act of expressing feelings through music can influence how we think and feel, affecting our daily choices. In fact, some studies suggest that music therapy has been effective in reducing pain, depression, and disability.

As a child, I found it difficult to express my emotions. Opening up about my feelings was tough, and there were times when I felt overwhelmed by so many emotions that I didn’t know how to deal with them. That’s when I began writing everything down. At first, it was just a way to clear my head, but soon those words turned into poems. Writing became my outlet—an emotional release that helped me process what I was feeling at the time.

The more I wrote, the more it helped. Eventually, I started turning those poems into songs. This creative outlet became my therapy, my escape.

Years later, I compiled all my poems and songs into a book. Looking back through it, I can see my story unfold—the ups, the downs, the growth. It’s like reading a personal journey through the pages.

Twenty years later, I’m still writing. I've penned demos for companies, written for artists, and even attended the Hollywood Reporter and Billboard Film & TV Music Conference in LA. But at the end of the day, nothing beats the satisfaction of expressing myself through music—creating something beautiful, fun and healing.

That’s why I created the Songwriting for the Soul: Song Writing Program—to help others share their stories, heal through music, and walk away with a song that’s uniquely theirs. 

Heidi Garland, R.H.N