The Healing Power of Music: Alison Hughey and the Heart Behind Carolina Music Therapy
There are people whose work you admire—and then there are people like Alison Hughey, whose story stops you in your tracks. Not because it’s flashy, but because it’s true. True to the calling that led her here. True to the people she serves. And true to what music can do when it’s offered with compassion, intention, and heart.
Welcome to Carolina Music Therapy. And welcome to the story of a woman who’s spent the last 15 years helping people reconnect—with themselves, with each other, and with moments they thought were lost.
A Personal Wound, a New Path
Alison didn’t set out to become a music therapist. She was a classically trained flutist studying performance, later teaching preschool music—until life threw her something unexpected: a back injury that left her in chronic pain.
That pain, as so often happens, became a turning point.
Music became more than a skill. It became a way to cope. A way to stay grounded in a body that hurt. A way to heal—not all at once, but gradually, rhythm by rhythm. It was during that time she met a student from Converse University’s music therapy program. Something clicked.
She went on to become a board-certified music therapist, and in the years since, she’s helped others find the same sense of peace, power, and connection through music that helped her in her own journey.
What Carolina Music Therapy Really Does
Today, Alison works with people of all ages and walks of life—from seniors with dementia to children experiencing anxiety, from adults recovering from brain injuries to corporate teams seeking something deeper than just “stress management.”
At the center of it all is a simple but profound mission:
Connection. Communication. Comfort.
And when you hear her talk about her work, it’s clear—this isn’t about fixing people. It’s about meeting them where they are. About reminding them they’re not alone. That their story matters. That healing doesn’t always look like a cure—sometimes, it sounds like a song from their wedding, played softly in the background while they sway in a chair beside someone they love.
One of Alison’s most powerful memories comes from a music session at a long-term care facility, where she facilitated a moment between a husband with advanced dementia and his wife. Using a song from their dating years, she helped them “slow dance” in their seats—no words, no expectations, just presence. “It was like they found each other again,” she says quietly. That’s the kind of work she does. The kind that sticks with you.
From One-on-One Sessions to Nationwide Workshops
Carolina Music Therapy isn’t just about clinical work. It’s also a growing presence in the wellness world.
During the pandemic, Alison began offering music-based support for children struggling with anxiety. She’s also led corporate wellness workshops, including with major organizations like Milliken. These sessions go beyond team-building—they offer something many workplaces lack: emotional space. Creativity. A breath.
And in the middle of it all, something beautiful emerged.
The Creative and Curious Cards: Mental Wellness in a Box
Alison created something called Creative and Curious Cards—a 52-card deck filled with simple prompts for self-expression and wellness. No elaborate setup. No expensive materials. Just a few minutes, a pen, maybe a crayon—and the willingness to see what comes out.
The cards have now reached people across the country. They’ve become tools in therapy sessions, school classrooms, and living rooms alike.
Every week, Alison hosts a free Zoom group to work through one card together—part creative practice, part community circle, part mental reset. The idea came from her husband, who noticed there were 52 cards and 52 weeks. So, she turned it into a rhythm: one prompt, one hour, once a week. A gentle return to self.
Looking Ahead: Growing the Mission, Staying Rooted
When Alison talks about the future, she doesn’t use buzzwords or grand visions. She talks about deepening the work.
She wants to do more with corporate retreats and employee wellness, travel more, collaborate with people from different cultures and musical traditions. And yes, she wants to get more card decks out into the world—and maybe even relaunch her podcast.
But the heart of it all? It’s the same as it’s always been: using music to bring people back to themselves.
Carolina Music Therapy isn’t a product. It’s not a brand.
It’s a reminder. That healing doesn’t have to be loud. That creativity is for everyone.
Sometimes, the most important moments are the ones you feel quietly—between the notes.
If you’d like to experience Alison’s work or join her weekly sessions, you can visit her website at www.carolinamusictherapy.com