Sonic Connections: Music-infused Mental Health Workshops

Using Music to Improve Campus Well-Being

Sonic Connections is an arts-based mental wellness organization that equips students with life and leadership skills to thrive in the face of challenges. Through immersive music and positive psychology, we help folks get unstuck and moving towards meaningful college experiences.

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Supporting students in higher education across the country

Academic life is a journey… not a problem to be solved.

Students are facing record levels of stress, anxiety, depression, loneliness, and burnout, all while being met with cultural messages to minimize these negative experiences above all else. The thing is…

Cultivating well-being isn’t about avoiding the hard stuff.

Attempting to eliminate or “fix” mental health issues and emotional challenges often exacerbates these problems, leading to long wait lists for resources. Ultimately, students who can learn to skillfully navigate and integrate the ups and downs of academia are more likely to thrive in their pursuits 1.

FOCUS ON HUMAN FLOURISHING

Instead of fixating on symptoms of mental distress, we draw from evidence-based psychology to help students live fully and vitally amidst the inevitable pressures of college life.

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WHY SONIC CONNECTIONS?

Our program stands apart from traditional mental health programming in two main ways…

MUSIC-BASED HEALING

We leverage music as an immersive tool for skill-building, making the discussion about personal wellness and mental health accessible, engaging, and stigma-free.

💡 The Program 💡

At the heart of Sonic Connections are two fundamental principles that synergize with music to bring about a transformative experience for student mental health:

Mindfulness
We put students back in the driver’s seat by helping them navigate their thoughts and feelings—both positive and negative. We use music to fully immerse in our lived experiences, explore the art of observing thoughts and emotions, and navigate what comes up.
Personal growth and Behavior Change
We help students engage in meaningful behavior—especially when experiencing challenges and distress. Using the expressive nature of music, we lead activities that unearth meaningful values and aid participants in translating them into lasting habits, choices, values, and goals.

The program is led by our team of expert facilitators and supports students through two key touchpoints: a live kick-off event followed by ongoing support.

🛠️ The Workshop 🛠️

Schools select a wellness topic related to college life, such as stress, anxiety, depression, burnout, social relationships, etc. Then, on a day and time of your choosing, we’ll lead an immersive ~90-minute workshop (in-person or hybrid/virtual), guiding participants through a live series of music-centric activities that build psychological skills to enhance mental wellness, flexibility, and resilience.

🫂 Continued Support 🫂

Mental health isn’t a destination, and no program should ever claim to be a quick fix. Our partners have peace of mind knowing that a collaboration with us is more than a one-off event: All workshop participants are invited to become members of our private virtual community that provides ongoing mentorship coaching and training sessions and a myriad of other resources at the intersection of art and mental health. Sonic Connections is not just a workshop, but a sustained journey of learning and empowerment for the entirety of a students’ college experience and beyond.