Alison Hughey ’03 Music Therapy Class for Adults Featured on Fox Carolina

Alison Hughey, Adjunct Instructor of Music Therapy at Converse University’s Lawson Academy, is using music therapy to help dementia patients improve their moods. The Fox Carolina feature spotlighted her work with residents at The Gardens at Eastside in Greenville.

“When we listen to music that we enjoy, we have an increase in dopamine, we have a decrease in cortisol, the stress hormone,” Alison Hughey told the interviewer. Researchers have been making great strides in using music to help patients with dementia; it has been shown to reduce anxiety and depression, and improves wellbeing.

Converse University offers a music therapy program through Lawson Academy, and a Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy degree.