“Music Therapy is an established health profession in which music is used within a therapeutic relationship to address physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of individuals. After assessing the strengths and needs of each client, the qualified music therapist provides the indicated treatment including creating, singing, moving to, and/or listening to music. Through musical involvement in the therapeutic context, clients’ abilities are strengthened and transferred to other areas of their lives. Music therapy also provides avenues for communication that can be helpful to those who find it difficult to express themselves in words. Research in music therapy supports its effectiveness in many areas such as: overall physical rehabilitation and facilitating movement, increasing people’s motivation to become engaged in their treatment, providing emotional support for clients and their families, and providing an outlet for expression of feelings (“Definitions and quotes,” 2014).”
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Psychiatric, Mental Health, Trauma and Crisis Intervention
Music therapy with psychiatric patients can be a non-confrontive approach to therapy. Clients who are non-responsive to traditional therapies are especially well-suited for music therapy. A music therapist uses preferred music of the client work on goals that the client and the music therapist have selected together along with information from a formal assessment.
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| Leading a music therapy session in Missouri |
Developmental, Intellectual and Physical Disabilities
Music therapy with developmental, intellectual or physical disabilities can be a creative approach to working on IEP goals, improving cognitive functioning, increasing gross motor skills, increasing fine motor skills, improving social skills, and increased socialization. And you do it all while rocking out to your choice of preferred music!
Older Adults
Music therapy with older adults uses music to maintain physical health, gross motor skills, social skills, cognitive skills, and emotional skills. Music therapists also work to increase reality awareness for those clients with dementia and Alzheimer’s. Music therapists uses the preferred music of the clients which can range from country, classic rock, big band music, swing, classical, folk songs and many more!
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A music therapist* is someone who holds a degree from an accredited university, has completed an 1020 hour internship in addition to 180 hours of practicum studies, and has successfully passed the board certification examination for music therapists from the certification board for music therapists. A music therapist is a one-man band that takes the power of music and harnesses it for therapy. Music therapists are trained under qualified professionals and music therapy is an allied health profession. For more information on music therapy and the board certification for music therapists, please visit www.musictherapy.org or www.cbmt.org.
A music therapist is different from a social worker or licensed professional counselor because they believe in music both in therapy and as the therapeutic tool as opposed to traditional verbal methods. Music therapy can be a fun and non-confrontive way to accomplish traditional therapy goals.
*music therapist: please note that this definition is the United States of America definition of a credentialed music therapist, different countries have their own association and different requirements. Fiji currently does not, yet, have a music therapy association.
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