Music Therapy and the Integration of Mind, Heart, and Spirit in Holistic Health: Toward a Comprehensive Framework for Research and Practice

Bando H, Fukuda Y, Bando M and Yoshioka A

Published on: 2026-03-12

Abstract

Music therapy has emerged as clinically relevant intervention including cognitive, emotional, social, and existential dimensions of human experience. Three conceptual models exist for mind (cognition and executive processes), heart (emotional regulation and affect), and spirit (meaning, identity, and existential well-being). They synthesize several evidence from clinical and experimental research on the mechanisms and outcomes of music-based interventions (MBIs). The empirical findings are presented concerning cognitive outcomes, emotion regulation, and spiritual well-being, and propose integrative framework would be proposed for dynamic interactions. Furthermore, methodological challenges, conceptual gaps, and future research directions will be described, associated with spiritual outcomes and expanding evidence.