Carolina Music Therapy, LLC: Alison Hughey, MT-BC

Carolina Music Therapy, LLC: Alison Hughey, MT-BC Using music to enrich lives, connect community and reach goals in the Spartanburg, SC area. I turned to an old friend to help me cope with the pain: Music.

As Willie Nelson sings, “The life I love is making music with my friends.”

Whether it be singing in the car with my husband on our road trips, making up songs for our dogs (Mila and Tater), facilitating music therapy sessions or virtual retreats, leading group singalongs, or performing with the Sally Rides, music is my jam (side note: I’m also a fan of song quotes and puns). My greatest passion is helping people connect and heal with compassion through our dearest mutual friend: Music. Music can help us feel seen and heard, feel connected with strangers who like the same band, connect us through time to our history, connect us to our faith, and physically bring us together in listening to a performance or making music in a group. A few years after graduating with a degree in music performance from Converse College in 2003, I experienced a back injury. I found myself tapping out rhythms, humming, and singing to distract myself and find hope again. I soon met one of the first students in the newly established Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy program at Converse, and decided to return and complete the program. Since earning my board certification (MT-BC) in 2010, I’ve continued to perform around upstate South Carolina while working as a music therapist in long term care, mental health, and community settings. I’ve collaborated on two published research studies on music and wellness for community mental health and long term care. In 2018 I founded Carolina Music Therapy, my music therapy private practice based in Spartanburg, SC. In addition to offering clinical music therapy services and adaptive music lessons, I also share resources on music in self-care for mental health at Compose Your Self Care and offer creative self care workshops.

03/13/2026
The connections between trauma and other outcomes (including health) is fascinating and heartbreaking. ❤️‍🩹 Read about t...
03/11/2026

The connections between trauma and other outcomes (including health) is fascinating and heartbreaking. ❤️‍🩹
Read about the ACES (adverse childhood experiences score) profile and studies for more on this.

Childhood trauma isn’t defined by isolated events. It’s shaped by the emotional climate, power dynamics, and consistency of care a child grows up inside. What feels “normal” in childhood often becomes the template for what feels familiar in adulthood, even when it’s destabilizing. Understanding the context we adapted to is often the first step in understanding ourselves. From there, patterns can be examined rather than reenacted. 🌳🌅

03/11/2026
Music can be an impactful component of public health! Check out this new collaboration and research with Joanne Loewy an...
03/10/2026

Music can be an impactful component of public health!
Check out this new collaboration and research with Joanne Loewy and Jon Batiste:

Happy MAR10! 🌟 🍄 🏰 For a great laugh, check out the remix song in the comments 😂
03/10/2026

Happy MAR10! 🌟 🍄 🏰

For a great laugh, check out the remix song in the comments 😂

03/10/2026

Putting feelings into words does more than help you reflect. Brain imaging research shows it can shift activity inside emotional circuits.

The amygdala is often described as the brain’s threat detector. It helps you quickly respond to stress and uncertainty. When emotions feel intense or overwhelming, this region can become more active.

Studies using brain scans have found that labeling emotions — even briefly — is associated with reduced amygdala activity and increased engagement of the prefrontal cortex. The prefrontal cortex supports planning, reasoning, and self-regulation. In simple terms, writing about emotions appears to shift processing from automatic emotional reactivity toward more deliberate control.

Expressive writing research, including randomized controlled trials, suggests that structured emotional writing can reduce rumination and improve psychological well-being over time. When experiences are translated into language, the brain organizes them differently. What felt chaotic becomes structured, stored, and easier to reflect on.

This does not mean writing erases stress. It means the act of labeling feelings recruits regulatory networks that help the brain process emotional information more efficiently.

Even brief writing sessions have been linked to measurable changes in emotional processing patterns.

Source: Frontiers in Psychology; Mindfulness (Springer)

Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified professional for personal concerns.

03/09/2026
03/09/2026
03/09/2026
03/09/2026

Music therapy has gained recognition as a safe, effective, and person-centered intervention that bridges neuroscience, medicine, and humanities. This review ...

May your joy and coffee be strong this week! 🌞 ☕️
03/09/2026

May your joy and coffee be strong this week! 🌞 ☕️

03/08/2026

Address

Spartanburg, SC
29306

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm
Saturday 8am - 5pm
Sunday 8am - 5pm

Website

https://counselingcomm.kartra.com/page/alison

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