The Concert Therapy: Development and Description of an Integrated Arts Based Intervention Combining Live Music, Guided Breathing, and Gentle Movement for Stress Regulation in Non-Clinical Populations

Background: Psychological stress is highly prevalent in non-clinical populations, while access to accessible, non-medical, and preventative approaches to stress regulation remains limited. Arts-based practices such as music, breathing, and gentle movement have each demonstrated potential benefits for well-being, yet they are most often offered as separate modalities rather than as an integrated intervention. Intervention description: The Concert Therapy is an arts based intervention that integrates live music performance, guided breathing, and gentle movement within a single, structured session. The intervention is designed as an experiential sequence progressing from calming to more uplifting phases, with the intention of supporting relaxation, embodied awareness, and emotional regulation. This article describes the conceptual foundations, development process, and delivery structure of The Concert Therapy as a reproducible intervention model. Supporting evaluation: To contextualise the intervention, a brief pilot pre-post evaluation was conducted to explore feasibility, acceptability, and short-term changes in perceived stress following participation. Adult participants attended a single in-person or online session, and perceived stress was assessed immediately before and after the intervention using the 10-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10). Summary of findings: The intervention was feasible to deliver in both formats, with full participant completion and no adverse events reported. Reductions in perceived stress were observed following participation, alongside positive experiential feedback related to relaxation, emotional engagement, and bodily awareness. Conclusions: This Method Article introduces The Concert Therapy as an integrated arts-based intervention for stress reduction and well-being. Preliminary evaluative findings provide supportive context for the intervention and indicate the need for further controlled research to examine effectiveness, mechanisms of action, and longer-term outcomes.