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In counselling and mental health work, we often seek ways to help people reconnect with their strengths, find hope, and build resilience. One powerful and often underestimated tool? Musicals.
Yes, those energetic, emotional productions filled with singing, dancing, and drama can offer more than entertainment—they can become a source of emotional support, self-expression, and healing.
Personally, I’ve found songs like “Chip on My Shoulder” from Legally Blonde: The Musical incredibly motivating during my own educational journey. It’s a track about proving yourself, pushing through doubt, and turning pain into purpose. Like many people, I’ve carried a chip on my shoulder—something to prove, a need to show I was capable—and that song helped transform that weight into drive.
Then there’s Hamilton, with its rallying cry: “I’m not throwing away my shot.” These lyrics echo a deep, personal truth—that even when life feels stacked against us, we can still fight for a future that matters.
Why Musicals Work
1. They Help Us Feel
Musicals give us permission to feel—fully, unapologetically, and out loud. Whether it’s grief, joy, anger or hope, characters sing what we often struggle to say. That emotional resonance helps us process our own stories.
2. They Inspire Resilience
So many musical characters face adversity—Elphaba in Wicked, Evan Hansen, Jean Valjean, Elle Woods. We see them fall, fail, and still rise. These stories remind us that setbacks aren’t the end; they’re part of the journey.
3. They Engage the Body and Brain
Singing—especially those powerful, sustained high notes—does more than lift spirits. It engages deep breathing and vocal expression, stimulating the vagus nerve, which helps regulate our stress response. This can lower heart rate, ease anxiety, and activate the body’s calming systems.
4. They Create Connection
Whether we’re listening alone or performing with others, musicals connect us to something bigger. They create a sense of community and shared emotion that can be incredibly grounding and validating.
5. They Motivate Action
From revising for exams with “You Will Be Found” in the background to tackling imposter syndrome with “Defying Gravity,” musicals can become a soundtrack for change. They anchor us to hope and remind us to keep going.
Musicals in Therapy and Everyday Life
In a therapeutic setting, encouraging clients to explore music that resonates with them can be a powerful intervention. It’s not about performance—it’s about connection, regulation, and reflection.
So next time you find yourself overwhelmed, consider reaching for a show tune. Let yourself sing, breathe, feel. Healing isn’t about perfection—it’s about showing up, again and again, even when it’s hard. And maybe, just maybe, not throwing away your shot.
What’s your favourite musical, and has it helped you in some way?
