When being faced with an intensive mood disorder such as depression, finding different treatment options and coping methods can get to be a bit overwhelming.

Especially in times such as these, it may seem that more traditional therapeutic routes might not work for some people, which brings up the question: How will I manage my depression? Because of media influence and what is traditionally seen as treatment, most people may not know about the existence of alternative therapy methods such as music, dance, and art based therapy approaches to help treat depression and other mood disorders along with medication or other treatment methods.

The focus will be shifted specifically on music therapy and how it serves multiple purposes in addition to its main goal which would be to acknowledge and understand the mental, emotional, physical, and social needs of the individual receiving it through the use of a musical aspect. It meshes together a type of artistic enjoyment with evidence-based treatments to allow those to manage and cope with their depression in
alternative ways while also maybe even developing a special interest or talent that will then lead to positive encouragement and motivation.

The idea of music therapy is very much like any other treatment model and may be used in combination with other forms of therapy such as dance movement therapy, art therapy, and traditional talk therapy. Essentially there are no rules in terms of what and how something should be expressed during music therapy as it is a safe space to expel and organize various thoughts and emotions through the use of a music outlet possibly by learning an instrument or making music and corresponding it to different
emotions and thought processes. This would be characterized as an active mode of music therapy as it is solely focused on various musical aspects during the therapeutic process. A passive mode of music therapy is one that has musical components involved in the treatment, but it is not the only focus as it is used with other models as previously mentioned such as dancing, painting, and talking.

A critical and unique factor of alternative therapy models is that they can both be utilized at home and in the therapeutic space as these methods allow for the individual to develop special interests and coping skills that are hands on and provide multiple outlets for natural growth. This is especially important during these difficult times where some may not have access to in person therapy or are forced to quarantine for days at a time. It is not to say, however, that one therapy model is better than the other as that is solely dependent on the individual preference of the person receiving treatment.

Therapy is not a one size fits all process, and that is okay. What matters the most in times of distress is reaching a state of self-security and eventual happiness.