The purpose of this study was to determine which music therapy technique was most effective in eliciting emotional change with persons who are chemically dependent during a single session. Participants attended either a songwriting (n = 13) or a lyric analysis group (n = 13). A Visual Analog Mood Scale containing 11 emotion variables was completed prior to and immediately following sessions. No significant differences were found between groups or among the emotion variables between groups for either the pre or posttest data. Significant differences were found among the emotion variables for both the pretest and posttest data. Music therapy significantly increased feelings of acceptance and joy/happiness/enjoyment and significantly reduced feelings of guilty/regretful/blame and fear/distrust. Though not statistically significant, mean emotional change was greater for 10 of 11 variables in the songwriting group. Seventy-five percent of subjects indicated on the Significant Moments in Treatment Questionnaire that music therapy sessions were a significant tool for their recovery. Irrespective of technique, music therapy elicited significant emotional change during a single session and was perceived as therapeutic by the participants.