Therapeutic songwriting, a well-established music therapy method, offers unique potential due to its versatility in addressing diverse therapeutic goals through lyrical and musical creation. Although past literature supports its use in various linguistic, clinical, and cultural contexts, its application in tonal languages remains underexplored. This research-based presentation explores therapeutic songwriting in Cantonese language, where pitch variations shape word meanings, creating both challenges and opportunities for musical and lyrical creation. We conducted an online survey of registered music therapists in Hong Kong to
explore current practices, the influence of linguistic and cultural factors, and clinical applications. The mixed-data survey collected data on demographics, therapeutic goals, theoretical and clinical contexts, and songwriting resources. Results show that therapists in Cantonese-speaking communities widely embrace songwriting, valuing its cultural relevance,
alignment with therapeutic goals, and meaningful participant outcomes. It is used across diverse clinical populations to address goals such as emotional expression, experience processing, and identity exploration. The tonal nature of this language, along with other linguistic complexities, uniquely impacts songwriting decisions, influencing both lyrical and musical choices. This tone variation requires therapists and participants to balance melody and meaning, potentially affecting therapeutic experiences and outcomes. As the first systematic study of these perspectives, this research highlights innovations in adapting songwriting to linguistic diversity, contributing to person-centered, creative practice. It also advocates for training and resources to support music therapists working with diverse
linguistic populations. Looking to the future, this study encourages collaboration and dialogue to advance music therapy practice, training, and further research in therapeutic songwriting within Cantonese-speaking contexts in Austrasia regions and beyond.