by When most people think of music therapy, Cardi B’s sexually explicit and aggressive lyrics may not be the first thing that comes to mind.
However, for some patients, certain Cardi B songs could provide unexpected therapeutic benefits within the right clinical context. While psychiatrists don’t universally recommend her music as part of standard treatment, there are a few cases where her songs may aid in the therapeutic process if used carefully and intentionally.
In this article, I will explore some of the reasons why Cardi B’s music seems an unlikely fit for therapy at first glance. I will then outline a few potential therapeutic applications of her songs, with an emphasis on how they could be used to facilitate important discussions, provide catharsis for difficult emotions, or serve as a cultural connection for some patients. Overall, I argue that while music therapy should always be tailored to individual needs, Cardi B’s authentic and empowering brand of hip hop could open therapeutic doors for the right client under the right circumstances.
Potential Concerns with Cardi B’s Music
Before diving into how Cardi B’s music could hypothetically aid therapy, it’s important to acknowledge some valid concerns psychiatrists may have regarding its incorporation into treatment. Three potential issues stand out:
Sexually Explicit Lyrics and Themes
Many of Cardi B’s most popular songs, such as “WAP” and “Bartier Cardi,” feature graphically sexual lyrics and themes. While open discussion of sexuality can be therapeutic for some clients, explicit content is generally not appropriate or helpful for all patients and clinical contexts. For clients struggling with trauma, addiction, or unhealthy attitudes around sex and intimacy, such songs could potentially be triggering or counterproductive.
Promotion of Aggression
Cardi B is known for her unapologetically bold and confrontational persona. Some of her lyrics celebrate aggression, confrontation, and retaliation against enemies. While catharsis around anger can be therapeutic, directly endorsing aggression poses ethical issues and risks normalizing harmful behaviors for vulnerable clients.
Individualization of Treatment
A core principle of psychiatry and therapy is individualizing care based on a patient’s unique needs, strengths, goals, and risk factors. Blanket recommendations of any singular artistic work, no matter how popular, goes against this principle of customized treatment planning. Different clients may find different types of music most helpful depending on their specific challenges, backgrounds, and stages of treatment.
These are valid concerns that suggest Cardi B’s music probably shouldn’t be a standard or across-the-board recommendation in most therapeutic contexts. However, there are also some potential applications of her work that may prove clinically useful in rare, specialized situations.
Potential Therapeutic Applications
Catharsis Around Difficult Emotions
For clients struggling to identify, understand, or express uncomfortable internal experiences like anger, frustration, or sadness, Cardi B’s raw depictions of these emotions could provide a useful starting point. Within a contained clinical setting and under a therapist’s guidance, reflections on how certain songs make them feel could help surface and externalize private distress. This is a form of catharsis that may ease psychological burdens.
For example, a client grappling with past trauma or relationship difficulties may connect with Cardi B’s unfiltered portrayal of feeling disrespected, mistreated, or fed up in songs like “Be Careful.” Processing those emotions through the lens of the song, rather than directly acting them out, could facilitate important therapeutic work. Of course, any cathartic exercise requires close monitoring and processing by a skilled practitioner.
Cultural Connection and Empowerment
For some marginalized clients, Cardi B’s unapologetic embrace of her roots and identity could serve as an inspiring model. Her music authentically captures the experiences of women of color in a way that resonates deeply for some fans. Incorporating a client’s cultural touchpoints, when appropriate, can strengthen the therapeutic alliance.
For a young client struggling with self-esteem after facing racism or sexism, reflecting on Cardi B’s rise to success while staying true to herself could potentially boost their sense of pride and agency over their own journey. Of course, any cultural discussion requires sensitivity to each unique client’s background and preferences. But when used intentionally, pop culture figures offer rich opportunities for connection.
Springboarding Deeper Discussion
Perhaps the most realistic therapeutic application of Cardi B’s music is as a non-directive prompt to spark meaningful exchanges. A therapist familiar with a client’s tastes may play a Cardi B song simply to start a conversation, then guide discussion organically wherever it leads without endorsing any particular message.
Lyrical themes could illuminate relationship patterns, decision making processes, or inner experiences in a way that feels less intimidating than a direct interview. This client-led approach respects individual autonomy while creating space for therapeutic openness and insight. It also mitigates risks by keeping artistic content in a supportive discussion context rather than standalone recommendation.
Considerations and Best Practices
Of course, any incorporation of popular music like Cardi B’s into the clinical space requires careful consideration and adherence to best practices:
Therapists should have advanced training and understanding of the client to determine appropriateness on a case-by-case basis. Blanket recommendations are inappropriate.
Goals should be clearly identified and any activity directly tied to enhancing the therapeutic process, not just casual entertainment.
Clients’ comfort, preferences, and potential triggers take priority over any perceived benefits. Participation should never feel forced.
Discussions focus on clients’ own experiences and insights rather than directly endorsing or analyzing the artist’s intent, image, or message at face value.
Activities are carefully framed, monitored, and processed therapeutically to mitigate risks and maximize benefits. Follow-up evaluation of impact is important.
Cultural sensitivity is required regarding any client’s background, values, and relationship to the presented content.
When used judiciously with appropriate safeguards and the right client, even an unlikely candidate like Cardi B could conceivably aid the therapeutic process. But individualization and clinician judgment should always take precedence over pop culture influences.
Conclusion
In summary, while Cardi B’s music may seem an odd fit for traditional psychiatry or therapy due its graphic and confrontational nature, there are rare cases where select songs could open doors if handled sensitively within clinical frameworks. Catharsis around difficult emotions, cultural connection, and non-directive discussion are some potential applications of her authentic brand of hip hop for the right client-therapist pairing.
Of course, music therapy should always be customized to each individual rather than rely on blanket recommendations. And any incorporation of outside influences like popular artists requires close therapeutic monitoring, clear goals, cultural awareness, and prioritizing client comfort, context and consent above all else. When used judiciously as one small part of a holistic, individualized treatment process, even unlikely candidates may prove therapeutically useful in the right situation. Overall, flexibility and clinical judgment are most important.
In the end, while most psychiatrists probably wouldn’t put on a Cardi B playlist during a standard therapy session, her music could conceivably open up meaningful conversations for the rare, specialized case under the guidance of a skilled practitioner. With care, attention and respect for individual client needs, even seemingly ill-fitting influences may bear therapeutic fruit in context.
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