Tips for Facilitating Guided Relaxation

When people hear that I am a music therapist, they often jump to the conclusion that my job entails playing sedative, atmospheric music all day to help people relax. And while more often than not music therapy is an active and interactive music making process, there are times when it is appropriate to facilitate a receptive musical relaxation experience, such as when addressing goals of mindfulness, decreased stress/anxiety, or muscle tension. These are a few of my tips and tricks for Music-Assisted Guided Relaxation! 

Choosing your musical accompaniment 

There are plenty of “calming music” playlists you could find on YouTube, and these are great resources for clients to use to practice these skills outside of music therapy, but during a session, using live music can add a deeper level of engagement. When using guitar, I like to choose a progression that utilizes major and minor seventh chords and suspensions. I have found that these chords are basic enough to not be distracting, but provide enough musical interest to keep minds from wandering.

My go-to chord progression is variations on Em7, Cadd9, Dsus2/4, and Asus2 

These chords can be played in just about any combination, and will sound lovely 

Guitar is an accessible and flexible choice, but if they are available, other instruments such as a reverie harp or HAPI drum would also work well for this intervention. 

Practice timing 

When I first began facilitating guided relaxations as a music therapy student, one of the biggest pieces of feedback I received is to always be aware of how the relaxation script is aligning with the music. For example, ascending arpeggiations while cuing clients to inhale, and descending as they exhale. This is yet another benefit of using live music, as it can be adapted as needed to add non-verbal cues in addition to the verbal prompts. 

Additionally, when you are cuing deep breathing, make sure the breaths are metered evenly–you don’t want people passing out! It may help to practice this in advance with specific counts for each breath so you can ensure that it is doable.

Being able to read a script in an even and soothing way while playing an instrument is a skill within itself, and it takes a bit of practice to be able to do it smoothly. Guided relaxation scripts are often intended to be read very slowly and evenly, so be sure to practice your pacing a few times to make sure you are not rushing through.  

Choosing a script

Guided relaxation comes in many forms, and they are not all appropriate for every situation. Be aware of your client’s specific goals and what you hope to accomplish when choosing a script. Here are some examples:

• Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR)

  • PMR encourages clients to tense and release muscles, taking them through each area of the body. The results include decreased physical tension, pain, and stress/anxiety responses, and improved sleep 

  • This is appropriate for clients who experience muscle pain or tension caused by stress

  • Example PMR script: https://www.therapistaid.com/worksheets/progressive-muscle-relaxation-script 

• Guided Imagery and Music (GIM)

  • GIM prompts clients to close their eyes and imagine a setting where they are completely relaxed and at peace. These scripts often integrate all five senses, asking clients to identify what they see, hear, feel, smell, and taste within this space

  • This is appropriate for clients who would benefit from increased mindfulness, multi-sensory awareness, and health benefits that result from decreased stress such as decreased blood pressure and improved sleep 

    • It is important to note that GIM might be contraindicated for clients who have/are experiencing psychosis, as it does ask them to imagine a place that is separate from their current environment or reality. 

  • Example Guided Imagery Script: https://cdn.ymaws.com/members.nyssswa.org/resource/resmgr/handouts/2024/ClosingK_Calm_Safe_Space_Gui.pdf 

• Guided Affirmations 

  • A guided affirmation script provides clients with a series of positive affirming statements, teaching them to regard themselves with patience, love, and kindness, rather than the harsh self-critiques most of us default to

  • This is appropriate for clients with goals of improved self-esteem/mood, empowerment, and decreased stress and anxiety

  • Example Affirmation script: https://www.thepositiveplanners.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Gentle-Guided-Affirmation-Meditation-Transcript.pdf