Battle Creek VA Music Therapy: Healing and Connecting

Creative arts therapies are part of Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Recreation Therapy Service and are direct-care programs that include the following disciplines: Art Therapy, Dance/Movement Therapy, Drama Therapy, and Music Therapy. Battle Creek VA has worked with nearly 500 Veterans between outpatients, inpatient mental health, residential programs throughout 2023.

“Music therapists go through specific training in order to know when to intervene, when and what songs to play, or what non-verbal cues to look for in this type of therapy,” said Taylor Fox, a recreational arts therapist with Battle Creek VA. “I think that’s what sets us apart is the clinical application of music to address challenges.” 

Music therapy’s 70-year history in the U.S. military covers the entire continuum of care among service members, Veterans, and their families. It is a vital part of treatment currently delivered in military treatment facilities and VA medical centers across the country, delivered by board-certified music therapists.

For many, like U.S. Marine Corps Veteran Daniel Dunn, it continues to be part of his lifestyle and allow him to cope with depression following an accident in 2001.

“I came to the medical center to see a mental health specialist and she mentioned the music therapy program, and I love and played music before, so I jumped at the chance and it’s been awesome since then,” said Dunn. “Music therapy helps me with getting the angst out, and without it I would probably would not be in a good place.”

The American Music Therapy Association says the therapy has been a practice since the early 19th century. In 2005, VA doubled the number of music therapists at its clinics across the country to better treat Veterans. 

Music therapy is also not exclusive to Veterans as individual sessions, but also includes opportunities for Veterans to practice and perform as a group. At various times throughout any given week at Battle Creek VA, the stage of the medical center auditorium has Veterans playing different instruments together and connecting as a group.

“When we’re up here working as a team, like when we were in the military, there’s this cohesiveness and camaraderie when we’re on stage,” said Dunn. “You don’t have to be isolated, and if you’re not talkative, you can still be a part of something when you’re playing music with others.”

For some Veterans, music has served as a lifeline to find new ways of expression and ultimately a way to improve on a personal level.

“We had one Veteran come in who was in our residential program and we could see that he was struggling to express himself and not always comfortable finding the words for what he was feeling,” said Fox. “You could see him though on stage and put it all out there and his confidence blossomed throughout his time here and he just completely became a different person. He was making connections with other Veterans during our jam sessions, and he was becoming more in touch with what he was feeling and able to express that a little better.”

Fox also uses music therapy at the medical centers’ community living center, where not all Veterans have the communication capabilities they once had. Approximately 50 Veteran residents there may be suffering from dementia, terminal illnesses, or have become non-verbal and I use music to help maintain and improve their quality of life. 

“One aspect of music therapy I find to be important is the connection that people feel, whether that is between Veteran to Veteran, myself and a Veteran, or between caretakers and Veterans,” said Fox. “My hope for Veterans who enter music therapy discover, or rediscover, a coping tool they can utilize throughout their recovery. I also hope they find a community and connection with others to better understand that they’re not alone.”