Psychiatr. praxi. 2025;26(3):172-180 | DOI: 10.36290/psy.2025.029

Integrating music therapy into schema therapy for hospitalized patients with mental disorders: Clinical reflections and case examples

Mgr. et Mgr. Zdeněk Maté^{1, 2}, prof. MUDr. Ján Praško, CSc.^1-4, Mgr. Draga Čermáková³, PhDr. Marie Ocisková, Ph.D.^{1, 2}

¹ Centrum duševní rehabilitace, Jessenia, Rehabilitační nemocnice Beroun Akeso Holding, MINDWALK, s. r. o., Beroun

² Klinika psychiatrie, Univerzita Palackého v Olomouci, Lékařská fakulta a Fakultní nemocnice Olomouc

³ Katedra psychologických vied, Univerzita Konštantína Filozofa v Nitre, Fakulta sociálnych vied a zdravotnictva, Slovensko

⁴ Katedra psychoterapie, IPVZ Praha

Background: This article explores the integration of music therapy techniques into schema therapy for hospitalized patients with various psychiatric diagnoses. The aim is to examine how music can support experiential work, schema processing, and the activation of healthy modes.

Methods: A case-based approach is used to present four hospitalized patients with depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and social anxiety. Each case includes short conceptualization and description of music therapy interventions within the schema therapy framework.

Results: The integration of music therapy facilitated emotional expression and awareness, reduced internal tension, enabled work with maladaptive modes, and supported the development of the Healthy Adult and Kind Parent modes. Music provided a safe space for corrective emotional experiences and nonverbal processing of internal conflict.

Conclusion: The combined approach of schema therapy and music therapy appears to be a promising method for improving emotional regulation, self-awareness, and therapeutic engagement in inpatient settings. Further research through controlled trials and structured therapist training is needed to support its broader clinical application.

Keywords: music therapy, schema therapy, hospitalization, emotional regulation, modes, corrective emotional experience, mental disorders.

Accepted: October 15, 2025; Published: November 6, 2025  Show citation