People of all backgrounds, ages, and cultures can respond to music and music therapy. Notable groups music therapists have helped include: 

• Military service members and veterans. Music therapy helps you cope with trauma. 
• People with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Individuals on the spectrum learn best when familiarity, structure, predictability, and consistency. 
• Individuals with Alzheimer’s disease. Music therapy may help with memory and stimulate your mind because of predictability, familiarity, and feelings of security. 
• People in correctional settings. If you’re incarcerated in a mental health facility, halfway house, or group home, music therapy may help with problem-solving, communication skills, relaxation, and decreasing impulsivity. 
• Victims of trauma and crisis. If you’ve experienced trauma and crisis, you might have anxiety, stress, and pain. Music therapy can help you decrease those three experiences, improve your mood, feel mentally healthy, confident, and provide a non-verbal outlet for emotions. 
• Those who are physically ill. The list includes but is not limited to people with chronic pain, diabetes, cardiac conditions, cancer, headaches, recent surgery, and people in rehab. 
• Individuals with mental health disorders. Suppose you’re dealing with a mental health disorder. In that case, music therapy can help you with communication and expression, help you explore your thoughts and feelings, improve your mood and concentration and develop coping skills. 
• People with chronic pain. Music therapy can help decrease your pain, anxiety, fatigue, and depression. 

Substance abusers. Music therapy may help if you have a substance abuse disorder. Research has shown that it can increase motivation and self-esteem, reduce muscle tension, decrease anxiety, improve self-awareness and strengthen coping skills.