Music Therapy

Music Therapy

Music Therapy is an established healthcare profession that uses music to address physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of individuals of all ages.  Music therapy improves the quality of life for persons who are well and meets the needs of children and adults with disabilities or illnesses (American Music Therapy Association). Music Therapy is a treatment modality that is founded in the study of the connection of music to human physiology, psychology, and phenomenology.  The following describe selected areas of Music Therapy treatments and practice.

• Developmental and Rehabilitative treatments address cognitive, physical and emotional impairments or injury and support educational goals. *
• Medical music therapy interventions are directed towards biomedical illness, injury, or disease, as well as towards the related psychosocial factors to promote the healing and recovery process. *
• Psychotherapeutic music therapy interventions seek to help the client gain insight on thoughts, feeling, and actions. *
• Palliative and bereavement services provide emotional and physical comfort and memory-making opportunities in life-limiting or end-of-life circumstances and psychosocial support to families experiencing loss.
• Wellness and recreational music activities and lessons enhance the quality of children’s lives through music making, music play, and music lessons.

*Neurologic Music Therapy techniques may be used in the developmental and rehabilitative, medical, and psychotherapeutic contexts.

Common diagnoses

Music Therapists are able to provide treatment for developmental issues, deficits caused by injury or illness, mental health disorders and emotional disorders.  Music Therapy also addresses the effects of and promotes recovery from medical illnesses.  These diagnoses include, but are not limited to:

Developmental Disabilities  

• Autism Spectrum Disorders
• Cerebral Palsy
• Hearing Loss
• Intellectual Disability
• Global Developmental Delay
• Mental Retardation
• Cognitive Impairment
• Speech/ Language/ Dysphasia Impairment

Medical Diagnoses

• Parkinson’s Disease
• Alzheimer’s Disease
• Cancer
• Charge & William’s Syndrome
• Sleep Disturbances
• Catastrophic Injury
• Traumatic Brain Injury
• Strokes
• Other chronic and acute medical conditions

Mental and Emotional Health Disorders

• Depression/Anxiety
• ADHD/ADD
• PTSD/ Trauma
• Personality Disorders
• Eating Disorders
• Bipolar/ Schizophrenia
• Attachment Disorders
• Adoption Issues
• Learning Disabilities

Music Therapy Techniques

Music, including the elements of music, is the primary tool for Music Therapy techniques. Common types of activities for therapy include:

• Music Making
• Music Listening
• Song or music composition
• Movement
• Creative Arts with Music
• Relaxation and Imagery/ Humanistic Psychotherapy
• Music Lessons
• Music Games
• Music Technology
• Lyric Analysis
• Therapeutic Music Video
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) blended with Psychotherapeutic Music Therapy Imagery as well as hypnotherapy

Because music is familiar, affects mental, physical and emotional functioning, and provides for immediate success, it is a valuable tool in supporting children and adults in the treatment and recovery experience.  Benefits and outcomes of music therapy include, but are not limited to:

• Improved neurologic development and function
• Improved relationships with family and social circle
• Improved function in home, school and community
• Decreased costs of medical and mental health care
• Increased physical comfort
• Decreased stress and anxiety
• Increased sense of competency
• Improved learning abilities
• Increased coping abilities