The Future of Music Therapy in Annapolis: Thoughtful Collaboration with AI

While many people in Annapolis know music for stress reduction or improved sleep quality can be helpful, few realize the clinical, evidence-based power of professional Music Therapy. Like many other health professions, music therapy is now adapting to new technologies. As Artificial Intelligence (AI) rapidly evolves, it promises to create unique personalized music experiences and adaptive playlist generation for clients.

Can AI Replace an Annapolis Music Therapist? The Value of Human Connection

You might ask, what is the need for music therapy if I can create my own therapeutic experience with music at home? I would argue that it’s not an either/or situation. Music therapists can work in tandem with music technology to enhance client experiences, while clients can benefit from the nuances at the heart of human interaction and creativity. While AI has made strides in its ability to compose music, it lacks the capacity at present to fully emulate the creative process innate to humans, in which authentic voice and personal growth manifest through a process of trial and error. 

Enhancing Music Therapy Sessions: How AI Provides Personalized Music Experiences

That doesn’t mean that clients can’t benefit from collaboration with AI tools in music therapy. A research study in Beijing highlights some of the main benefits of using AI in music therapy, with benefits for therapists and clients, including:

• Increased efficiency in session planning

• Enriched musical content

• More customizable treatment plans

• Improved ability to respond to diverse needs and interests of clients

• Increased client engagement

The study “Research and Development of an AI Music Therapist” illustrates these benefits further through their pilot of an “AI Music Therapist” to provide conversation and singing accompaniment to nursing home residents, particularly when caregiving staff are unavailable. Apart from being a standalone resource, music therapists involved in the study reported they could benefit from collaboration with AI during their sessions in many ways, including:

• Rich accompaniment, such as orchestral sounds.

• Performing multiple tasks simultaneously (e.g., accompaniment and conducting).

• Providing richer, more diverse musical content.

Photo of hands on a piano keyboard with recording and sound equipment.

Photo: Stockcake

The Limits of AI in Therapy: Why Gentle Challenge is Essential for Growth

The struggle to express ourselves authentically and to face difficult truths about our experiences is where real therapeutic change can happen. While AI chatbots have increasingly been used as an empathetic sounding board, there is an important distinction to make between validating human experience and increasing user engagement. AI is designed to keep you on the platform, which is why we see AI chatbots performing increasingly well in offering empathetic responses, which, in some cases, can be a real hazard.

This positive feedback loop neglects an important component of therapy. Kat Heidelberger speaks about the need for “gentle challenge” as a core component of the therapeutic experience, helping people achieve change and growth in their lives. Hau and Winthrop echo this conclusion based on research from Stanford: “We may feel seen [by AI chatbots], but we are not being shaped, challenged, or held in the mutual growth that defines true relationships.” 

Heidelberger points out that a lack of gentle challenge can even lead to negative outcomes in some mental health conditions, such as reinforcing symptoms of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Equally concerning is another recent study revealing that mental health advice from AI chatbots have led to self-harm, encouraged delusional thinking, and reflected discriminatory views.

Even AI Thinks So: What ChatGPT Says About the Therapeutic Alliance

According to the evidence, the prospect of AI fully replacing the work of a music therapist looks unlikely. In fact, even AI thinks so. When I asked ChatGPT how it sees the future of music therapy, I received this response: 

“Music therapy is fundamentally relational. Music therapy depends on human empathy, emotional attunement, and nonverbal connection — things that AI can simulate to a degree but not genuinely experience. A therapist reads subtle cues like breathing, muscle tension, facial expression, and emotional energy, adapting moment-to-moment in ways that go beyond data analysis. AI can generate soundscapes or analyze emotional states, but it doesn’t feel compassion or understand trauma the way a human does. The therapeutic alliance — the relationship between client and therapist — is central to healing outcomes.”

Photo of an elderly women holding a drum stick while seated in front of a drum

Photo: Memory Lane Assisted Living

Conclusion: Navigating the Future of AI-Enhanced Therapeutic Practice

The future of music therapy points to thoughtful collaboration between therapists, clients, and AI. While no official guidelines on AI collaboration currently exist for music therapists, there is a growing body of research on the subject, including a recent article from music therapist Petra Kern, proposing core competencies for navigating AI-enhanced therapeutic practice.

Just as each therapeutic encounter is unique, the use of AI can be personalized based on client preferences and therapist skill sets. AI can be a tool to enhance therapist practice and client experience, while respecting the boundaries of safe and ethical practice. 

Ready to experience the human connection and personalized growth that only a certified Music Therapist can provide? Contact Annapolis Music Therapy today to schedule a consultation and begin your journey.