Cancer survivors’ experiences of telehealth music therapy for anxiety management: A qualitative study

Introduction Cancer diagnosis and treatment frequently result in long-term psychosocial effects, including anxiety, depression, and social isolation. Comprehensive survivorship care must therefore include interventions that address these enduring emotional challenges. Music therapy is an evidence-based treatment that enables cancer survivors to identify, explore, and process emotions through creative engagement with music within a supportive relationship with a trained music therapist. While the benefits of music therapy during active cancer treatment are well established, less is known about its use with survivors following active treatment. The purpose of this qualitative study was to enhance understanding of cancer survivors’ experiences of a telehealth-delivered music therapy protocol designed to support anxiety management. Methods This qualitative study was embedded within a non-inferiority comparative effectiveness trial that demonstrated that telehealth music therapy was equally effective as telehealth cognitive behavioral therapy in reducing anxiety and related symptoms among cancer survivors. Thirty music therapy participants took part in individual semi-structured interviews conducted via Zoom. Interview transcripts were analyzed using a reflexive thematic analysis approach. Results The analysis resulted in five themes: (1) music therapy improves anxiety management; (2) music therapy promotes connection with self; (3) music therapy promotes connection with others; (4) music for self-care; and (5) facilitators and barriers. Survivors attributed the benefits of telehealth music therapy to song discussion and collaborative songwriting, which enabled them to process emotions and worries within a supportive therapeutic relationship. Participants also highlighted the value of learning music-based strategies that were easily transferable to daily life and applicable across contexts. Finally, survivors described a renewed appreciation for music and creativity as accessible resources for self-care and wellness, as well as using music to strengthen and deepen relationships with loved ones. Conclusions Cancer survivors reported positive experiences with telehealth music therapy and described music engagement as a meaningful health activity that supports mental and emotional well-being. Together with symptom improvements demonstrated in the larger clinical trial, these findings suggest that music therapy should be considered as a viable intervention for anxiety management among cancer survivors transitioning out of active treatment.