Written by:

Danny Smith

Medically Reviewed by:

Dr Mateen Durrani – MBBS, DPM, MSc, BCPsych

Last Updated:

September 30th, 2024

Drumming Therapy

Drumming therapy, a form of complementary therapy frequently utilised in addiction recovery, harnesses the power of music and creativity to promote self-expression, emotional release, and self-regulation. At Oasis Bradford, drumming therapy is one of the many therapeutic options included in our comprehensive rehab package.

What is drumming therapy?

Drumming therapy is a form of music therapy that uses drums to release pent-up emotions, foster creativity and enhance self-expression. Drumming therapy can be one-on-one or in a group.

Music therapies harness the mood-boosting properties of music creation to enhance well-being and mental health. They can be a way to tune into your emotions through an instrument – for instance; anger can be expressed through fast, hard drumming and sadness through sombre, slow beats. Music therapy is used for a wide range of issues like depression, insomnia, anxiety and pain management.

Like other complementary therapies, drumming and other forms of music therapies are not intended to replace more traditional forms of therapy, like CBT or EMDR. Rather, they are intended to form part of a package of interventions that can help you tackle your addiction from multiple angles. Complementary therapies take a holistic view of treatment, acknowledging that treating the body and integrating aspects of spirituality into the recovery process can bring extra benefits.

Group drumming therapy

Engaging with drumming therapy in a group reduces self-centredness and isolation, pulling people into a state of unity and connectedness. Drumming therapy can ease group tensions, and learning to play together, bouncing off each other, and improvising can help you feel more bonded to the people you’re playing with.

Individual drumming therapy

Drumming therapy does not have to be performed in a group. Attending drumming therapy alone still offers benefits such as access to flow states and creativity, emotional release, and altered brainwave states.

Why drumming therapy for addiction?

Drumming therapy offers some unique benefits that are especially relevant to people undertaking the work of recovery.

Promotes feelings of togetherness

Addiction and recovery can be isolating experiences. Making music in a group allows you to feel that you’re part of something bigger and increases feelings of connection and belonging.

Offers alternative forms of expression

Substance misuse can make communicating with others difficult, and many people in recovery may be used to suppressing their emotions. Music therapy is an excellent way for people who find it difficult to express themselves or talk about difficult experiences to get their emotions out and experience release. Expressing yourself indirectly via creating music can be a safer way of communicating your feelings.

Drumming can be a ritual

Today’s secular world offers few ways to access rituals or ceremonies. These have been used for thousands of years by humans to mark occasions or support transitions – but opportunities to engage in them are now much rarer. Drumming can take on a ceremonial or ritualistic role, offering a non-religious way to benefit from this ancient form of human expression.

Access to different brainwave states

Drumming and other audio therapies have beneficial effects on the brain. Drumming enhances alpha and theta brain waves, which are associated with improved relaxation and creativity. Theta waves are associated with light sleep or deep relaxation, while alpha waves happen when people are in a relaxed, idle state.

Remaining in an alpha or theta brain wave dominant state for extended periods can increase emotional regulation, induce relaxation and reduce tension and anxiety.

Enhancing these brainwave states is both a benefit and a goal of many forms of holistic therapy, including meditation, gong therapy, yoga, mindfulness and deep breathing.

Experiencing creativity and flow

Music therapies allow you to create something without pressure, and engage with the pleasurable aspects of creativity without the burden of expectation. Repeatedly engaging in a creative activity can allow you to feel a sense of pride or mastery in the process or in the sounds you’re creating – and this is a great way of boosting self-esteem.

Integrating the brain and the body

Drumming is a highly physical activity. Many holistic therapies attempt to treat and heal the mind, body and spirit as one. Because drumming therapy incorporates sound, movement, creativity and altered states of consciousness, it brings all of these elements together,(2) allowing them to work as one.

Like other forms of holistic therapy like yoga, drumming therapy helps people to feel more at home in their bodies, complementing more traditional therapies like CBT or DBT which focus much more exclusively on the mind.

It’s fun

Drums are noisy and expressive, and you don’t need to learn complicated chords or read music to join in. The endorphin release from hitting the drums feels fantastic – and you don’t need to bring anything other than yourself to join in.

Start your journey today

If you’re feeling trapped by your addiction, we can help you find a way out. Drumming therapy is just one of the many options we offer as part of our comprehensive package of tailored rehab interventions. Together, we can create a treatment plan that works for you.

Reach out today to start your journey to recovery.

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