Queer Music therapy: affirmative practice For LGBTQ+ Communities

​Music therapists work across diverse populations, including the LGBTQIA+ community, where affirming and inclusive care is vital. The Queer Music Therapy Model, introduced by Bain et al. (2016), offers a structured, identity-affirming approach to care that challenges the cissexist and heterosexist foundations of traditional therapeutic frameworks. This model recognizes the unique therapeutic needs of LGBTQIA+ individuals and supports clinicians in offering empowering care.
Originally developed for LGBTQ+ adolescents, the model encourages identity development and resilience through music rather than emphasizing vulnerability (Boggan et al., 2017). Interventions include musical autobiography assessments, gender-bending song parodies, critical lyric analysis, and group anthem writing. These techniques foster self-expression, community, and empowerment in therapeutic settings.
Adult and older LGBTQIA+ populations, particularly those from intersectional backgrounds, often face barriers to affirming care. Research confirms that older LGBTQ+ adults of color are frequently excluded from advocacy and policy, facing ageism alongside racism and heterosexism (Christian et al., 2021). Approaches like Relational–Cultural Theory (RCT) and the Multicultural and Social Justice Counseling Competencies (MSJCC) offer frameworks to support these clients through culturally responsive and justice-oriented care (Cole, 2021).
Queer music therapy can also be strengthened by using works from LGBTQIA+ artists to affirm identities and foster connection. Songs like “Born This Way” by Lady Gaga and “Chosen Family” by Rina Sawayama become powerful tools for healing and identity affirmation.
As the field evolves, the inclusion of affirming, intersectional, and research-driven practices like queer music therapy remains crucial. These practices not only foster resilience and connection but also challenge systems of oppression through the power of music.
References
Bain, C., Grzanka, P. R., & Crowe, B. (2016). Perspectives on queer music therapy: A qualitative analysis of music therapists’ reactions to radically inclusive practice. Journal of Music Therapy, 53(4), 375–404. https://doi.org/10.1093/jmt/thw010
Boggan, K. E., Grzanka, P. R., & Bain, C. L. (2017). The queer music therapy model: Empowering LGBTQ+ youth through musical identity. Voices: A World Forum for Music Therapy, 17(3). https://doi.org/10.15845/voices.v17i3.928
Christian, D., Osborne, J., & Samuels, D. (2021). Counseling older LGBTQ+ adults of color: Relational–cultural theory in practice. Journal of Counseling & Development, 99(3), 330–340. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcad.12378
Cole, R. (2021). Counseling LGBT military clients using the Multicultural and Social Justice Counseling Competencies framework. Journal of Military and Government Counseling, 9(1), 32–45. https://doi.org/10.1080/2326716X.2021.1945079
Johns Hopkins University. (2022). LGBTQ Glossary – Gender & Sexuality Resources. https://studentaffairs.jhu.edu/lgbtq/glossary
AAMFT Queer Affirmative Caucus. (2007). A companion to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer studies: Affirmative counseling techniques. American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. https://www.aamft.org/queeraffirmative