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In the first programme of ‘How Music Heals’ – author and psychotherapist Philippa Perry investigates the power of music therapy, and how it works, focusing on group sessions. In East London she meets music therapist Donald Wetherick who works with adults experiencing the most serious mental health conditions including psychosis, schizophrenia and severe depression. He leads groups both in psychiatric wards and in the community – and says that music is a way of connecting and communicating for people experiencing extreme isolation and trauma at the worst points in their lives.

She also travels to Edinburgh to meet some newly qualified music therapists from Queen Margaret University and talks to them about their training, how they improvise together and learn how to use music as a therapeutic tool with their clients. Philippa asks why and how music has the power to heal when conventional talking therapies might not be possible. She experiences being part of a group herself playing with seven others in an improvisation session using violin, oboe, guitar, percussion and piano.