In today’s fast-moving corporate world, companies are starting to understand that employee well-being goes beyond just physical health or basic stress management. HR teams are now finding new ways to help employees take a break from everyday stress. They want people to enjoy activities that make them feel happy and relaxed. That’s why art and music therapy are becoming more popular in offices across India. These fun and creative activities help people feel calm, refreshed, and ready to do their best at work.
Creative expression gives employees a way to process emotions, reduce stress, and feel more connected to their purpose like key elements for long-term employee engagement and retention.
As HR leaders try to build emotionally strong and resilient teams, many are realizing that traditional wellness activities like yoga or mental health webinars are no longer enough on their own.
Around 44% of wellness programs in India are reactive, meaning they only respond after problems happen, instead of preventing them in the first place. (Source: ETHRWorld.com)
To create effective and complete employee wellness programs, HR teams need to go beyond the basics and explore expressive therapies. That’s where art and music therapy come in unique, science-backed ways to boost mental health, increase creativity, and improve employee engagement in today’s workplaces.
What is art & music therapy?
Art therapy
Art therapy is a type of therapy that uses creative activities like painting, coloring, drawing, sculpting, or making collages to help people express their emotions. It’s commonly used to deal with stress, trauma, and emotional challenges.In the workplace, art therapy helps employees express what they’re feeling inside especially when they find it hard to put emotions into words. It promotes self-awareness, reduces stress, and supports better mental health.
The best part? Art therapy doesn’t require any artistic talent. It’s all about self-expression, not how good your drawing or painting looks.
Music therapy
Music therapy uses sound, rhythm, and melodies to support mental and emotional well-being. This can include listening to calming music, taking part in drumming circles, writing lyrics, or joining musical mindfulness sessions.Music connects directly to the brain’s emotional center. It helps employees relax, improve focus, and manage stress without needing to speak or explain their feelings.
These expressive therapies are now being used more in employee wellness programs because they offer a refreshing, human approach to well-being in today’s high-pressure work culture.
According to the Times of India therapy that explores emotional layers like art and music therapy is increasingly being used to support people with severe conditions like anxiety and depression.
5 art therapy exercises for employee wellness programs
Here are art therapy activities HRs can include in their employee wellness programs:
1. Mandala art
Employees color intricate mandalas using sketchbooks or digital apps. It promotes focus, mindfulness, and stress relief. It helps reduce anxiety levels, fosters patience and inner calm.
Mandala art, in particular, is a popular exercise for relaxation and focus.
At Pazcare, we recently hosted a Mandala Art therapy session for the team at Cashfree, where employees engaged in mindful coloring as part of their employee wellness program. The session helped participants slow down, express themselves creatively, and feel more connected to their inner calm.
2. Emotions collage
Participants cut out images, textures, or colors from magazines and newspapers to create a collage that expresses how they feel. Encourages self-reflection and emotional naming.
3. Group mural painting
A large collaborative canvas is placed in the cafeteria or break room. Each team member paints a small section reflecting workplace values. It improves team bonding and emotional connection to company culture.
4. Clay therapy
Clay modeling or soft sculpting sessions that allow employees to shape and reshape their feelings using their hands. It improves motor coordination and tactile mindfulness.
5. Visual journaling
Employees are given a sketch journal where they express thoughts through quick drawings, sketches, or colors on a daily or weekly basis. Aids reflection, self-awareness, and stress regulation.
5 music therapy exercises for employee wellness programs
Bring these music-based practices into your employee wellness strategy:
1. Musical mindfulness
A quiet guided session combining music and mindfulness techniques. Employees lie back and focus on soft, harmonic melodies and breathwork. It reduces heart rate and cortisol levels.
2. Sound bath meditation
Therapists use Tibetan bowls, gongs, or wind chimes to create an immersive soundscape. Employees experience deep calm and clarity. Great for post-lunch breaks or end-of-week recharging.
3. Lyric journaling
Pick a meaningful song. Employees write what the lyrics evoke and how they relate to current challenges. It builds empathy, emotional connection, and clarity.
4. Drumming circles
Guided sessions using hand drums, djembe, or beat boxes. Participants follow rhythm cues in a group circle. Encourages synchronization, stress relief, and team synergy.
5. Employee playlist exchanges
Each team creates a “mood booster” or “focus mode” playlist and shares it within the team. Strengthens community and builds emotional bonds.
Bonus: Peaceful mind by Pazcare
At Pazcare, we believe wellness isn’t just about programs, it’s about everyday moments of calm. That’s why we’ve created a soothing Spotify playlist called “Peaceful Mind by Pazcare”, filled with instrumental music, soft ambient sounds, and relaxing melodies.
📱 Scan the code below to listen on Spotify:
How art & music therapy benefit employee health
These therapies tap into underused aspects of human psychology like expression, rhythm, and reflection and give employees a refreshing break from digital overload.
How HRs can implement art & music therapy in corporate wellness programs
1. Partner with certified therapists
Work with trained art and music therapists who understand workplace needs. They can lead fun, stress-relieving sessions both in-person and online as part of your corporate wellness programs.
Look for therapists who specialize in employee wellness or stress management like Pazcare helps you choose therapists based on your team’s unique wellness goals.
2. Add to your wellness calendar
Make creative therapy a regular part of your employee wellness program. You can schedule monthly sessions like “Mindful Mondays” or “Expression Fridays” to balance mental, physical, and emotional wellness. This helps build routine and keeps employee engagement high.
3. Use wellness apps with music or art features
Some apps now offer guided music therapy, mindfulness, and even visual journaling tools. You can include these in your wellness perks or share access with employees. These tools are great for remote teams too.
4. Run internal talent sessions
Encourage employees who sing, play music, or enjoy art to host casual sessions for the team. It’s a simple way to boost employee engagement and celebrate hidden talents. These informal activities strengthen team bonding.
5. Give wellness kits with creative tools
Gift small art kits (like a sketchpad and colors) or sound therapy tools (like earphones and calming playlists) during onboarding or wellness weeks. Creative gifts show that your employee wellness program cares about emotional health too.
Conclusion
Workplace stress is real but so is the power of creative healing. Today, employee wellness programs need to go beyond just physical health. They should also care for emotional well-being and self-expression. By adding art and music therapy to your corporate wellness program, you give employees a chance to relax, express themselves, and feel more connected, not just to work but to their inner self.
HR teams that support these creative therapies help build a workplace that is not only productive, but also kind, imaginative, and mentally strong.
Partner with Pazcare for creative wellness solutions
At Pazcare, we help HR teams design impactful, employee wellness programs. From art and music therapy to yoga, mental health workshops, and fitness challenges—we offer over 500+ curated wellness activities tailored for modern teams.
Ready to build a healthier, happier, more expressive workplace?
Talk to our wellness experts and explore how Pazcare can bring creative healing to your employees.
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