We have the privilege of serving ICUs throughout Calgary, providing psychosocial support to patients and their families during challenging times. Our work in these critical care settings was never more vital than during the pandemic, when uncertainty, isolation, and vulnerability defined each day for patients and staff alike. Through it all, our team worked hard to remain a source of comfort, connection, and hope.
The Intensive Care Unit: A Constant Flurry of Focus
An Intensive Care Unit is a complex, bustling environment filled with the hum of machinery, the hiss of ventilators, and the beeping of monitors that track every beat of a patient’s heart and every breath they take. Doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals work tirelessly, ensuring patients’ vitals are stable—monitoring heart rates, blood pressure, respiration, and O2 saturation levels. Each team member contributes to the collective goal of stabilizing patients and supporting their recovery journey.
Amid these critical interventions, music therapy in the ICU provides psychosocial support, offering a calm, intentional, and deeply human connection. Patients may be intubated, unable to speak, or experiencing severe pain, making communication difficult. Music therapists thoughtfully and sensitively work to create a soundscape where patients can be calmed to help with the recovery process. Often music has the potential to become a glimmer of hope for patients and their families.
Tailoring Music Therapy to Each ICU Patient’s Needs
Music therapy in the ICU is not just about playing music—it’s a personalized approach to care. Therapists use music to help patients feel a sense of control and calm in an otherwise overwhelming environment. For example, our music therapists may match the tempo of music with a patient’s breathing pattern, helping regulate their breath and reduce anxiety.
Music also serves as a comforting intervention during painful procedures, such as IV insertions or blood draws. A patient might focus on a song anchored to a positive memory, and experience emotional safety amidst physical discomfort. For others, engaging with music—whether by singing along or choosing a favorite song—provides a great distraction.
A Story of Resilience: Mark’s Journey with Music Therapy
Following a cervical spine injury that left him paralyzed from the neck down, Mark (not his real name and several details have been altered) faced an uphill battle to rebuild his life. His curiosity about music therapy was piqued during his first session, where he openly wondered how music could play a role in his recovery. Over time, music became more than a therapeutic tool—”it is a source of strength” that helped guide him through the various stages of his healing journey.
Each session closed with the same two songs—upon his request—creating a sense of grounding and continuity, where stability felt elusive. These songs became touchstones, marking the passing of each week and providing a rare sense of someting he could depend on. When Mark transitioned to the acute spine unit, his music therapist introduced new songs, tempos and grooves, carefully chosen to reflect his progress and meet his evolving emotional and psychological needs.
In the neuro-rehabilitation unit, Mark began to engage more deeply with the world around him. He sought out song recommendations from friends and family, compiling a playlist of “Fight Songs” that resonated with his determination and grit. This playlist became an integral part of his routine, providing motivation and emotional sustenance. He also joined the music therapy group – where he was able to share the ups and downs of his recovery journey in a safe space.
But the impact of music therapy extended far beyond listening. When Mark expressed a desire to improve his communication with his spouse, the music therapist introduced him to therapeutic songwriting. Together, they composed a deeply personal song that expressed his feelings of admiration, love, and hope. The song was recorded at his bedside and gifted to his spouse—a profound moment of connection and emotional healing. This creative act symbolized a turning point in Mark’s recovery, fostering emotional growth alongside physical progress.
As his discharge day approached, Mark began exploring new music while continuing to include his original anchor songs in each session. These choices symbolized his readiness for the next chapter of his journey—returning home. Months later, he reached out to his music therapist for a follow-up session to celebrate his birthday. This meeting wasn’t just a celebration of another year of life but a tribute to the pivotal role music therapy had played in his recovery and the lasting bond he had formed with his therapist.
Evidence-Based Benefits of Music Therapy in ICUs – and the Future
Music therapy in ICUs is grounded in evidence-based practice, supported by extensive research that demonstrates its ability to alleviate stress, reduce pain, and improve overall well-being. Studies have shown that music therapy can positively influence physiological responses, like heart rate and blood pressure, making it an ideal intervention for critically ill patients.
For example, a study by Chlan et al. (2013) found that music therapy significantly reduced anxiety and the need for sedative medications in mechanically ventilated patients. Other research highlights music therapy’s ability to reduce cortisol levels, enhance mood, and stimulate endorphin release (Bradt & Dileo, 2014).
Moreover, A 2021 study highlighted the role of music as a non-invasive, non-pharmaceutical and an efficient practice to reduce the ICU induced anxiety among intensive care unit patients. It also possesses the ability to stabilize the main physiological parameters of intensive care unit patients. This study also recommends the use of music therapy for ICU patients to improve their psychological and physiological being (Chahal et. al, 2021).
In an environment as intense as the ICU, these small but significant changes can make a world of difference. At the hospital we currently work, an ICU Critical Care Study is in process. This study addresses the following questions: Has music therapy impacted the emotional and physical well-being of frontline workers, families, and patients in the ICU? Is live music therapy feasible and valued in the critical care environment, and what is the best way to optimize service in this setting? We look forward to sharing more with you soon!
By meeting patients where they are—whether that means syncing music with their breath, offering comfort during procedures, or helping them express their feelings through songwriting—music therapists provide invaluable psychosocial support that complements the medical care patients receive.
Conclusion: Music Therapy as a Lifeline in the ICU
The ICU can be a place of immense vulnerability and uncertainty, but it can also be a place of hope and recovery. Music therapy is more than a service—it’s a relationship, a way of connecting with patients on a deeply human level. And as we continue to serve ICUs across Calgary, we are reminded every day of our commitment and the profound impact music can have on healing, resilience, and transformation.
References:
- Chlan, L., et al. (2013). “Effectiveness of a music therapy intervention on anxiety in mechanically ventilated patients.” American Journal of Critical Care.
- Bradt, J., & Dileo, C. (2014). “Music interventions for mechanically ventilated patients.” Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.
- Chahal et. al, 2021 Effect of music therapy on ICU induced anxiety and physiological parameters among ICU patients: An experimental study in a tertiary care hospital of India