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Music & Imagery Stories
The stories below illustrate how Music & Imagery (MI) has been able to help people with a range of mental health issues, including in each case a brief description of the themes of the therapy and how it helped, with a selection of the artwork created also included.
We are extremely grateful to all those who have given permission for their stories to be shared. Names have been changed to preserve anonymity.
Some of these stories are of short-term work involving Supportive Music and Imagery (SMI) focused on developing inner resources, the outcome having been to make the challenges of everyday living more manageable and enhance wellbeing, this type of work often be very effective in its own right. Others stories are of shorter or longer-term therapy where Supportive Music and Imagery (SMI) and Re-educative Music and Imagery (RMI) in combination have been used to address a range of complex mental health issues and their underlying causes.
Both in-person and online work is included. Some of the stories illustrate how MI is sometimes combined with other methods in which therapists are trained.
Please click on the names or images below for further information about each MI story.
Peter
Type of therapy: Supportive Music and Imagery (SMI)
Therapeutic focus: understand negative thinking and reinforce positivity and calmness to manage challenges and move forward
In-person/online, frequency/duration: In-person, 6 fortnightly sessions
Peter (pseudonym) attended short-term Music and Imagery (MI) therapy when he was experiencing negative, self-critical thoughts which were affecting his relationship with his wife and child and contributing to low self-esteem. He felt trapped by unhelpful emotional patterns and unable to make the decisions needed to change and move forward.
Peter’s MI sessions focused on helping him to connect with and deepen feelings relating to supportive moments in his everyday life. The repeated experience of staying with these feelings in the MI process enabled Peter to develop inner resources, ready to be called upon when facing life’s challenges. By the end of 6 sessions, Peter was able to make decisions with clarity and actively progress in his life.
Helen Wallace-Bell (therapist) describes Peter's MI therapy in more detail in a video available here.
Peter's MI story, as illustrated above, shows how beneficial even just a few sessions can be.
After a break, he returned to have a more extended series of sessions. Using MI, Peter was able to acknowledge and work through unhelpful patterns in his relationships. His therapy then developed into Guided Imagery and Music (GIM) sessions where he continued his emotional exploration, describing his MI and GIM journey as a
“very encouraging and thought-provoking experience. I have been profoundly moved and changed on a deep soul level.”
Maya
Type of therapy: Supportive Music and Imagery (SMI)
Therapeutic focus: Exploring the root of perfectionism, and building confidence
In-person/online, frequency/duration: In-person, weekly sessions over the course of a school year
Maya (pseudonym), a primary school aged child, was referred to therapy due to high levels of self-consciousness and pressure to be perfect. At school, she could become overwhelmed with shame and disengage if confronted. In early sessions she found musical improvisation difficult, so I introduced Schumann’s Kinderszenen as a structured way to prepare her for standard SMI. Listening to contrasting pieces and reflecting on them through drawing gave Maya a safe, playful entry point without the pressure of “getting it right.”
Through SMI, Maya discovered resources that gave her pride, joy and freedom. After singing at her school Easter service, she listened to an instrumental of Who Put the Colours in the Rainbow? and created a drawing she called the “Happy Cross,” reconnecting with feelings of confidence and joy. In another session, she chose Naughty from the Matilda soundtrack, and through painting and singing together she was able to playfully own her mischievous side without fear of shame.
As therapy continued, Maya’s creativity blossomed. She drew imaginative worlds, such as a colourful planet where aliens sometimes needed “quiet time” before rejoining their friends, linking these images with her own relational experiences. Through this process, Maya moved from a fear of getting things wrong toward confidence, resilience and playful self-expression.
With gratitude to Maya and her family for permission to share this story, and to her school and social worker for supporting the sessions. Crystal Luk-Worrall (therapist)
Connie
Type of therapy: Supportive and Re-educative Music and Imagery (SMI & RMI)
Therapeutic focus:
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Emotional Regulation and Safe Expression
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Processing and Transforming Difficult Experiences
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Boundaries, Agency, and Self-Compassion
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Integration, Resilience, and Moving Forward
In-person/online, frequency/duration: online every 2 weeks, for 6 months
BEGINNING: Establishing Safety, Self-Awareness, and the Role of Music
Connie began therapy feeling burdened by workplace stress, difficult family dynamics, and a long-standing tendency to internalise anger and anxiety. Early sessions highlighted feelings of responsibility, frustration, and being misunderstood—particularly in relation to her family and work environment. Connie often described bodily symptoms of emotional distress, such as tightness, restlessness, and dissociation.
Music’s initial impact:
From the start, music was introduced as both a supportive and expressive tool. Gentle, calming pieces helped Connie access a “happy place,” evoking sensations of warmth, being held, and floating securely. The music’s light, flowing qualities allowed Connie to express comfort and containment, both through imagery and physical relaxation. When anxiety or anger surfaced, more intense or chaotic music provided a safe outlet for these feelings, enabling Connie to project internal tension onto the page and into the sound. Even in early sessions, the act of choosing music and responding to it physically and artistically established a sense of agency and safety, making overwhelming emotions more manageable.
MIDDLE: Deepening Emotional Work, Expressing Anger and Anxiety, and Developing Resilience
As therapy progressed, Connie’s sessions explored more difficult emotions—anger, anxiety, loneliness, and a sense of being trapped or scrutinised at work. Through both re-educative and supportive music therapy, Connie learned to externalise and explore these complex feelings. She confronted longstanding patterns of self-restraint, people-pleasing, and anxiety about setting boundaries.
Music’s effect in this middle phase:
Facilitating Emotional Release:
Connie began to select music that matched her internal states—rock and intense tracks for anger, swirling or circus-like music for anxiety and restlessness. These choices allowed her to “let out” what had been bottled up, sometimes resulting in bold, even “ugly” artwork that embodied her messy, raw feelings. Afterward, Connie often reported feeling lighter or more relaxed, as if the music and art together provided a safe space to “scratch out” internal pain.
Transforming Experience:
Connie discovered she could transform difficult feelings through creative engagement. For example, chaotic or anxious music, combined with free and tactile art-making, enabled her to externalise distress (e.g., spinning carousels, faceless crowds) and then shift her perspective—turning overwhelming images into grounded, resilient ones (flowers, anchored shapes). She learned that changing the orientation of her artwork or revisiting it could reframe her emotional experience, turning spinning chaos into grounded strength.
Personal Agency and Reflection:
Connie grew more reflective about her reactions, noticing how music could both amplify and soothe feelings. She began to curate her own resources, returning to supportive tracks (“Reflective Distance,” “We Still Drink the Same Water”) outside sessions to manage anxiety and foster hopefulness. The process of choosing, rejecting, and returning to certain pieces gave Connie a greater sense of control and ownership over her emotional landscape.
END: Integration, Self-Compassion, and Music as a Lasting Resource
In later sessions, Connie faced major life transitions, including leaving a toxic job and embracing new beginnings. She reflected on the cumulative impact of therapy, noting how music and art had become tools for resilience, boundary-setting, and self-compassion. Reviewing previous session images and associated music, Connie recognised her growth—from feeling stuck and overwhelmed to feeling anchored and capable of letting go.
Music’s lasting role:
Grounding and Resilience:
Music continued to serve as both a mirror and a resource. Calming, nature-inspired tracks supported Connie in reconnecting to safe, soothing memories (walks in the woods, being in nature), while energetic or assertive music empowered her to visualise setting boundaries and releasing what no longer served her (e.g., “the skip” image as a mental container for unwanted stress and people).
Transformation and Perspective:
Connie found that revisiting previous musical and artistic experiences could shift her perspective and emotional state. For instance, images and music that once embodied anxiety or chaos became symbols of resilience and flexibility. She developed a practice of reflecting on her artwork, noticing how simply turning the page or focusing on different elements could redefine her experience—transforming “spinning” feelings into grounded, swaying flowers.
Self-Care and Ongoing Use:
By the end of therapy, Connie had integrated music and art as self-care rituals, using playlists, imagery, and creative reflection to manage future challenges. She was able to recognise and honour her boundaries, accept the presence of difficult feelings, and use supportive music to anchor herself in moments of stress or transition.
SUMMARY
Throughout her therapy, Connie’s focus evolved from seeking safety and relief from overwhelming emotions, to processing and transforming those emotions, developing stronger boundaries and self-compassion, and finally integrating these gains to support ongoing resilience and self-care. Music and imagery were central to this journey, providing both a mirror for her inner world and a toolkit for growth. With deep gratitude to Connie for giving permission for this summary of her story along with some of her images to be shared. Verity Ransom (therapist).
Susie
Type of therapy: Supportive and Re-educative Music and Imagery (SMI & RMI)
Therapeutic focus: Addressing an inner void, her need for reassurance, clarity, hope.
In-person/online, frequency/duration: 14 fortnightly online sessions (with a 6 month gap between sessions 7 and 8).
BEGINNING
Susie, (pseudonym), was a busy 45-year-old woman, with a teenage daughter. Following a series of family crises and bereavements she had set herself on a new path in life, feeling ‘reborn,’ ready to start living again. While exciting, this also felt confusing and scary. She hoped that Music Imagery sessions would help; give some sort of reassurance, clarity, hope.
Music’s Role in this beginning phase.
Introducing Susie to a new form of self-care.
The supportive nature of clear, calm simple musical pieces, connected Susie to a deep gratitude for what she already had in her life - the space and resources to create for herself something far more authentic and fulfilling. She recognised the practical and emotional demonstrations of love she had received, and how this energised her to give something back.
Fast, light, playful pieces encouraged her to ‘scribble’ on the page, enjoying the colour and shapes which spontaneously emerged. It was a relief to notice how the music ‘by-passed’ her mind and unlocked feelings in her body. She learned to trust rather than fear this free-flow of energy, and felt a renewed interest in her own physical, self-care – cycling, breathing etc. Rather than stressed, she felt re-connected with her life force.
By the end of this initial phase, Susie had discovered a trust in her inner process. Specific instruments, melodies, harmonies or musical textures spoke to her in vivid ways, resulting in far more hopeful reflections about herself and future life.
MIDDLE
Now feeling in a more hopeful, trusting place within herself, Susie felt able to draw upon the music’s qualities to connect to uncomfortable feelings, which she had always known were there, and which she feared could derail her life.
Music’s Role in the Middle Phase.
Acknowledging and creating a safe space in herself for her anger, fear and loneliness – as a deeper expression of her self-care.
Against a dark soundscape featuring a menacing low male voice, Susie created a pastel image of a volcano, where her anger and passion ‘spewed up particles of fear.’ (Picture 4). In the next session, to a slow, soulful vocal piece with soaring saxophone melody, she poignantly depicted feelings of abandonment, evoked by a trusted colleague’s decision to leave the organisation Susie had founded. In a later session, a much darker theme tune to the Scandinavian noir, Wallander, evoked for Susie her potential for emotional overwhelm which she had often feared. She was able to see such ‘overwhelm’ as a sensitivity - which rather than a flaw was a superpower. This imbued her final picture of her ‘reborn’ self with a new array of qualities – relating both to her sociable, practical self and her capacity for finer feelings, intuition, hope.
END AND CONCLUSION
Although not a musician herself, Susie was able to use music’s unique qualities to connect in a safe way with both comfortable feelings (giving rise to a sense of calm and gratitude) and deeply uncomfortable feelings (anger, fear).
The transformative power of music, expressed via pastels on the page and through our reflections, was such that this enabled her to recognise and accept these aspects of herself. To recognise the ‘superpower’ within her felt deeply empowering. Her ‘reborn self’ felt stronger, occupying a bigger, more compassionate space in life. With deep gratitude to Susie for giving permission for this summary of her story along with some of her images to be shared. Cathy Rowland (therapist).
Andrea
Type of therapy: Supportive and Re-educative Music and Imagery (SMI & RMI)
Therapeutic focus:
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To express intense feelings of her experience of living with Multiple Sclerosis though making images
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For the process to offer new insights into her relationship with her condition
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To be able to find images and practices that could offer continuing deep rest and gentle inner support during periods of overload and stress
In-person/online, frequency/duration: In-person, in person, weekly, over four months
CLIENT DESCRIPTION AND ISSUES
Andrea, (pseudonym) was an articulate, resourceful woman in her mid-forties. She brought to her sessions many emotional insights regarding her difficult past and an informed understanding of her illness that she had gained during helpful periods of verbal therapy. However, at what seemed like a difficult stage in her illness, she felt she now needed a different approach that could draw upon her deep relationship to music and art, to support her in discovering new ways to understand how she might live more harmoniously with the constant challenges and shifting nature of her condition.
BEGINNING
Andrea seemed to benefit greatly from supportive sessions in which she could fully allow herself the space needed for taking her self-care seriously and create compassionate images that ‘sealed’ her commitment to her own wellbeing. She was able to powerfully express her experience of the persistent hammering pain she was experiencing in the image of the spiral using music that evoked her acute frustration with these symptoms. In listening to Max Richter’s ‘Spring’ she found it possible to be with both the heaviness of her condition (in the low basslines) while holding onto her dreams and wish for freedom (heard in the lyrical violin lines) at the same time. This felt like a revelation to her as these states had always felt incompatible.
MIDDLE
Andrea’s intense feelings of humiliation and exposure whilst undergoing a statutory assessment were strongly expressed in the image of the jaws and eyes. She felt that this image contained her emotions so vividly that it allowed her close family members to truly understand how distressing that process felt. In choosing music with uncertain elements I felt that K accessed deeper aspects of herself and out of this came the tender image of her present self, holding delicately in her hand herself as a young mother. In her SMI sessions she acknowledged the support she valued from others and perceived nurturing qualities which seemed to be growing within herself.
FINALE
Supported by varied, diverse and challenging music, I sense that Andrea was now able to develop further her unique symbols and figures and take them more deeply into the themes she had introduced earlier. This seemed to establish a new level of self-understanding as she neared the end of her series of sessions. In the image of the pond in which the figure can breathe, she was discovering a place of serenity and calm within. Out her deep imagination, supported by the complex music, came the extraordinary figure of the bull representing her Immune System. This felt like a major breakthrough for Andrea, replacing a hitherto negative attitude. In the final images, her older and younger selves are seen to be able to support each other with dignity and confidence in difficult environments. The closing image brings together beautifully into an affectionate group, the figures and symbols Andrea used so powerfully.
SUMMARY
In her Therapy, Andrea’s ability to externalise deeply felt experiences of physical and mental pain through her images was central. This might not have been possible without her equal commitment to attending to her need for nourishment and care for herself arising within her SMI sessions. As her process deepened, Andrea became able to represent different aspects of herself as a child, younger woman and her present self with increasing definition and meaning. The growing ability of these figures to work together enabled her to value and recognise how her strengths and vulnerabilities could co-exist and support each other compassionately. This was enabled, I feel, by her finding it possible to hear both darker and lighter aspects played together at the same time with increasing complexity in the music.
The music and Imagery process offered Andrea ways to encounter the heaviness of the reality of living with MS in ways that were surprising and revelatory for her. Since her therapy ended, she has continued to find support in the images of the Bull and the Pond as these in particular act to sustain her equilibrium, revive her spirits and restore her sense of ongoing emotional balance.
With deep gratitude to Andrea for giving permission for this summary of her story along with some of her images to be shared. Abby Wollston (therapist).
Alison
Type of therapy: Supportive and Re-educative Music and Imagery (SMI & RMI)
Therapeutic focus:
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Boundaries, Autonomy, and Family Dynamics
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Emotional Expression, Regulation, and Acceptance
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Visibility, and Self-Acceptance of LGBTQ+ Identity
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Grief, Loss, and Remembrance
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Coping with Overwhelm, Change, and Work Stress
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Integration, Growth, and Ongoing Self-Compassion
In-person/online, frequency/duration: online every 2 weeks for 7 Months
BEGINNING: Establishing Patterns and Introducing Music as a Therapeutic Tool
At the outset, Alison (pseudonym) entered therapy weighed down by entrenched patterns of people-pleasing, difficulty asserting boundaries, and complex family dynamics. These challenges manifested emotionally and physically, with recurring feelings of anger, guilt, and frustration often resulting in bodily tension and episodes of dissociation.
Music’s role (beginning)
From the very first sessions, music was used not only as a background resource but as a central, active therapeutic tool. Carefully selected pieces enabled Alison to access and express emotions that were otherwise difficult to articulate. For example, the relentless or clashing qualities of certain pieces helped Alison connect with internal anger and frustration, feelings that were hard to express verbally. The process of choosing and responding to music brought an immediate, embodied awareness—Alison frequently described physical sensations shifting in response to what they heard.
When supportive tracks were introduced, such as “Je te laisserai des mots,” Alison experienced tangible relief. Tension in the body melted away, and music offered a safe container for strong emotions, facilitating both catharsis and comfort. This established their music as both a mirror and a regulator of emotional states from the outset.
MIDDLE: Deepening Emotional Work and Music as a Bridge
As sessions progressed, music continued to act as a bridge to Alison’s inner experience, supporting both the re-educative (processing and reframing difficult emotions and memories) and supportive (regulation, comfort, grounding) goals of therapy.
Music’s effect in this middle phase:
Emotional Amplification and Clarification:
Alison explored a wide palette of music to find pieces that resonated with specific feelings—rage, grief, pride, vulnerability. Sometimes, dissonant or intense music allowed for the safe expression of overwhelming emotions, such as during grief for the loss of a pet or the exploration of trauma. Music choices often mirrored the complexity of Alison’s feelings, making invisible emotional states tangible.
Somatic Shifts:
The act of listening and responding physically—whether through breathing, movement, or drawing to the music—helped release held tension and facilitated somatic regulation. Alison frequently reported changes in bodily sensations as the music progressed, moving from tightness and agitation to release and calm.
Personal Agency and Identity:
Over time, Alison became more assertive in selecting or rejecting music, recognizing what “fit” their emotional need in the moment. They began to curate their own playlists outside of sessions, using music intentionally for self-soothing, grounding, or celebration. Music became part of their identity work, supporting the affirmation of their queerness and the integration of complex personal histories.
Creativity and Self-Expression:
Music inspired art-making that was freer, bolder, and more reflective of Alison’s true feelings. The interplay between sound and image supported deeper self-reflection and the creation of meaningful, symbolic representations of her journey.
END: Integration—Music as Ongoing Resource and Symbol of Growth
In the final stages, music’s impact was evident both in-session and beyond. Alison reflected on how certain tracks had become personal anthems or sources of comfort, with music now woven into daily routines for emotional regulation and creative expression. The process fostered greater self-trust, emotional resilience, and creative engagement, equipping Alison with tools to manage future challenges.
Music’s lasting effects:
Emotional Regulation and Resilience:
Alison learned to use music preemptively and responsively, turning to supportive tracks when feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or in need of grounding. Music became a touchstone for returning to a state of calm and self-connection, even outside the therapeutic space.
Empowerment and Autonomy:
The process of selecting, rejecting, and engaging with music fostered a sense of agency. By revisiting and curating music from sessions, Alison marked her progress and celebrated her ability to make empowered choices for herself.
Narrative and Integration:
Reviewing artwork and associated music at the end of therapy allowed Alison to see their journey as a cohesive narrative. Music pieces became markers of transformation, each carrying memories of emotional breakthroughs, healing, and moments of self-compassion.
Continued Growth:
Alison expressed a desire to continue using music therapeutically, having experienced first-hand its capacity to unlock, process, and soothe complex emotions. Music now serves as both a toolkit for resilience and a reminder of the growth achieved in therapy.
Music was not just an accompaniment but a central, dynamic force within therapy. It acted as a catalyst for emotional expression, a means of self-regulation, and a symbol of Alison’s evolving self-agency, ultimately supporting lasting change and integration well beyond the therapy room.
SUMMARY
Alison’s therapy journey cantered on establishing boundaries, embracing emotional expression, affirming identity, processing loss, and navigating life’s challenges with increasing resilience. Music and art were essential throughout—serving as a resource for transformation, empowerment, and ongoing self-care. With deep gratitude to Alison for giving permission for this summary of her story along with some of her images to be shared. Verity Ransom (therapist).
Keira
Type of therapy: Supportive and Re-educative Music and Imagery (SMI & RMI) and Guided Imagery and Music (GIM)
Therapeutic focus: identity and relationship issues, emotional resilience
In-person/online, frequency/duration: In-person, 18 sessions over the course of 16 months
In her Music and Imagery (MI) sessions, which took place during a period of change, Keira (pseudonym), a 30-year old woman, worked on her sense of identity and on becoming more emotionally resilient. Through developing her inner resources, Keira was able to establish new positive habits which led to her feeling stronger and more grounded within. This helped her to set healthy boundaries in her personal and professional life and recover more quickly when faced with challenging life events.
Beyond her therapy sessions, Keira started to independently use Music and Imagery (MI) as a new tool to process, reflect, and check in with herself. This helped her cultivate ownership over the therapeutic process and instil a practice of self-care. Used in such a way, MI can positively complement meditation or journaling practices and strengthen inner resources and the capacity for self-reflection. By the end of her therapy, Keira had an increased sense of confidence and had become more able to look after herself in order to support others around her.
Carine Ries (therapist) describes Kiera's therapeutic journey in more detail in an article available here.
Jane
Type of therapy: Supportive and Re-educative Music and Imagery (SMI & RMI) and Guided Imagery and Music (GIM)
Therapeutic focus: The ongoing impact of childhood abuse and trauma on relationships and wellbeing
In-person/online, frequency/duration: In-person, fortnightly and later monthly sessions over 2 years
Jane (pseudonym), a middle-aged woman, had experienced emotional, sexual and physical abuse from a young age, this continuing to affect her relationships and wellbeing as an adult. In her Music and Imagery (MI) sessions, Jane was able to explore and express feelings associated with her trauma, ranging from fear of abandonment, to sadness, powerlessness, isolation, anger and rage. She did this through art-making whilst listening to music. With her background in classical music, this as well as more contemporary genres were used with which Jane identified emotionally.
Through her creative work, the abuse Jane experienced was acknowledged and could be processed. Jane also worked creatively with other experiences that helped her develop feelings of inner strength, support and spiritual connection. In-between sessions, Jane consolidated what she had worked on in sessions as she discovered and developed her artistic talent.
Through Guided Imagery and Music (GIM), which was also included in the process (involving visualization whilst listening to music), Jane was able to reconnect with traumatised parts of herself and experience healing. As she began to recognise past patterns of abuse in her current relationships, she was able to make choices about what she was no longer willing to accept.
With deep gratitude to Jane for giving permission for this summary of her story along with some of her images to be shared, Jane having co-written and approved the final version of the text. Martin Lawes (therapist).
