Music and mindfulness: a rapid review of music and music therapy’s implementation with mindfulness practice

Abstract

The modern practice of mindfulness has been used to clinically treat stress, active depression, depression relapse, addiction recovery, and eating disorders, and to promote self-awareness and acceptance. Mindfulness skills and mindfulness meditation have been used in conjunction with theoretical applications, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectic behavioral therapy, and positive psychology, as well as creative arts therapies, such as dance/movement therapy, Insight Improvisation, and art therapy, to affect change. Though mindfulness has also been used with music and music therapy to achieve similar goals, a minimal amount of literature exists that directly discusses this. This rapid review summarizes the quantitative research published between January 2012 and July 2022 investigating the implementation of music with mindfulness practice. Recommendations for research are also included.