This article is brought to you as part of the ASCAP Member Wellness Program.

The work that music creators contribute to the world has the potential to help millions of people find joy, confidence, strength and inspiration. Yet just like anyone else, creators are not immune to the mental and emotional rigors of daily life. In fact, ASCAP’s 2019 Music Creator Wellness Study found that, compared with the general population, music creators are 50% more likely to feel depressed, and more than twice as likely to feel out of balance and powerless. But while stress, anxiety and self-doubt are commonplace for many creators, they don’t need to be considered the cost of doing business in the field you love. 

Therapy can be an invaluable tool for music creators, with the power to help manage their personal challenges head-on. “Therapy helps tap into the person, not just the ‘musician’ or ‘artist’ and what the world expects from them,” says Janoc Vance, Managing Director of Mental Health and Addiction Services at MusiCares. “Therapy humanizes [creators] and aids in emotional connection, thus allowing them to become more connected with themselves, while decluttering and opening space to become more creative.”

Vance is not naive to the unique challenges that some creators may face when considering therapy, such as a lack of anonymity or concerns of one’s career being in jeopardy if they do seek help. “There could also be more individualized cultural or religious components that may have framed a creator’s thoughts around therapy and mental health,” she says.

However, the benefits of therapy far outweigh any potential hesitations – especially for music creators in this era of social media and hyper connectivity, Vance says. “It appears the accessibility that the public has to many artists can be a double-edged sword, with the potential to increase anxiety, depression, or other mental health challenges.” 

When approached with an open mind, therapy can help music creators gain a greater sense of self awareness and overall well-being, while simultaneously shoring up inner resilience to tackle life’s peaks and valleys with aplomb. 

Types of Therapy for Music Creators

Nowadays, therapy comes in many shapes and sizes to suit all kinds of unique needs, budgets and schedules. “Musicians and artists tend to [benefit from] individual talk therapy, support group dynamics, and alternative methods of therapy such as meditation, breathwork, music therapy, art therapy and movement therapy,” says Vance. 

There are several unique types of therapy that music creators can benefit from, with many offered in person, online and even via mobile apps:

Finding the Right Therapist For You

Selecting the right therapist to fit your unique needs and personal preference is a very subjective process, but it doesn’t have to be a daunting one. Here are a few tips for finding a friendly ear to keep yours in tune:

Just Get Started

MusiCares runs an Emotional Support Group for Music Professionals. Creators can tune in every Friday at 1pm PT / 4pm ET – anonymously, if desired – to discuss the dynamic challenges that music creators face amid the music industry’s ever-evolving landscape.

Additionally, ASCAP members and their eligible dependents receive discounted pricing for mental health telehealth consultations, provided by the MD Live national network of board-certified doctors and licensed therapists.

“The way to get started is simply to just do it,” says Vance. “Understand that we are all worthy of being cared for, honoring our whole selves, and living fuller and freer lives, which starts with our mental health.”

ASCAP members: log into Member Access to create your MD Live account and schedule your first discounted telehealth consultation.