Saplings

Working with Teenagers

The teenage years can be exciting, but they can also be full of challenges. Many young people today face pressures around school performance, social media, body image, identity, and peer relationships, alongside the normal ups and downs of growing into adulthood. For some, this can lead to feelings of anxiety, low self-esteem, isolation, or difficulty expressing what they are going through.

Music therapy offers teenagers a safe, creative space where they can explore these experiences without fear of judgment. Through improvisation, they can express emotions freely in sound, often discovering new ways to process feelings they might not yet have words for. Through songwriting, they can tell their story, shape their identity, and create something that feels truly their own. Through singing, they can connect with their voice, experience release, and sometimes find strength and belonging in shared music-making.

Because music speaks directly to emotions, it can feel less threatening than talking and can reach young people who might otherwise struggle to engage. In this way, music therapy supports teenagers in building resilience, strengthening their sense of self, and finding healthier ways of coping with life’s difficulties.

Our Work May Include

Improvisation

Improvisation lies at the heart of music therapy. As Tony Wigram describes, it is a way for therapist and client to communicate in the moment, without words, through sound. By freely exploring instruments or voice, clients can express feelings that might otherwise remain hidden.

The therapist listens and responds musically, sometimes mirroring, sometimes gently extending what is offered, so that a musical dialogue unfolds. This exchange can help build trust, support emotional release, and create a sense of being truly heard.

Importantly, improvisation in music therapy is not about playing the “right” notes or being musical in the traditional sense. It is about using sound to connect, to discover, and to begin a process of growth and change.

Songwriting

Songwriting is another powerful way of working in music therapy. As Diane Austin describes, writing songs allows clients to put words to experiences that may be too difficult to speak outright. When those words are set to music, the feelings become embodied, heard, and validated in a unique way.

The process of creating a song can help clients tell their story, make sense of emotions, and connect more deeply with their identity. Listening back to the song can also become a source of strength and comfort, holding the client’s journey in musical form.

Songwriting in therapy is not about producing a polished piece of music. It is about expression, meaning-making, and connection: a creative process that can support healing on many levels.

Singing

Research shows that singing in music therapy can be deeply therapeutic, both physically and emotionally. Singing activates the breath, voice, and body, helping to regulate the nervous system and reduce stress. Studies have also found that singing together can increase connection, release endorphins, and even improve mood and immune function.

In therapy, singing can provide a safe way to explore emotions and develop a stronger sense of self. For some clients, finding their singing voice can be a powerful metaphor for finding their personal voice in the world. Group singing can also create a sense of belonging and shared experience, while individual singing may help with confidence, emotional release, and self-expression.

Feedback

"It is lovely to see R so happy and engaged! He is clearly getting so much from your sessions, you are doing an amazing job!"

Lydia, R's teacher

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I look forward to hearing from you!