Music Therapy Jobs DC
Music therapists utilize music to promote health and well-being for individuals dealing with illness, injury or disability. They work in hospitals, nursing homes, clinics and community centers; creating programs that enhance people’s quality of life regardless of age group or physical ability level.
In order to become a music therapist, you must possess at least a bachelor’s degree in the field or an equivalent qualification and complete 1000 hours of supervised clinical internship. Upon successful completion of this program, you will be eligible to sit for the national exam and earn your professional credential – Music Therapist-Board Certified (MT-BC) accreditation.
A music therapist can assist in managing anxiety and stress, relieving pain, elevating moods and improving cognitive function. Furthermore, they assist with social skills development as well as communication obstacles.
They can help you manage depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental health issues. Plus they might teach you to play a musical instrument!
Some therapists specialize in treating specific conditions, such as children with autism or those suffering from dementia. Others focus on general wellness issues like stress reduction, depression and anxiety.
Music therapists who excel are creative and sensitive individuals with unique personalities. They tend to be excellent communicators and team players, as well as patient, kind and caring individuals.
In order to practice music therapy in the US, you must possess at least a bachelor’s degree and valid certification in your state of practice. Furthermore, any additional requirements established by AMTA (American Music Therapy Association) or your state licensing board must also be fulfilled.
Once you’ve finished the music therapy curriculum, you are eligible to begin your internship. During this period, you’ll gain valuable experience applying music therapy principles and techniques in various situations. You will gain an in-depth knowledge of specialized treatment models such as medical music therapy, developmental-focused music therapy and instrumental/vocal improvisation.
Your internship will involve a series of clinical placements with adults and children, such as hospitals, inpatient psychiatric facilities, schools, continuing care facilities and community health clinics. You’ll collaborate closely with psychologists, nurses, physicians, music therapists and dance/movement therapists along with other health professionals to learn the many applications of music in mental healthcare settings.
Your client will become familiar with you and their presenting issues, and together you’ll create an individualized treatment plan to guide the music therapy sessions. Sessions typically last 45 minutes to an hour and may include verbal exchanges between both of you.
Your music therapy sessions may include listening or playing instruments, singing, improvising, creating or writing songs, re-creating existing pieces of music and more. These activities provide your client with a safe space to express themselves and explore feelings they wouldn’t feel comfortable discussing in other contexts.