The Positives and Negatives of Music Therapy
Music therapy is an effective treatment for people of all ages with mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, trauma, PTSD, substance abuse issues and autism. Additionally, it assists individuals recover from physical injuries, chronic illnesses and medical conditions.
Cognitive skills, confidence and mood enhancements can all be enhanced. Furthermore, it may aid with emotional issues like decreasing suicidal thoughts or feelings more frequently.
Music therapy is often combined with other therapies. Depending on the client’s individual needs, a music therapist may collaborate to craft an individualized treatment plan that incorporates techniques like vocalization, re-creation and composition.
A music therapist will assess their clients’ musical preferences and suggest songs that will promote positive changes in mental and emotional health. They then use this music as a guide during each session, focusing on the client’s specific objectives.
Some people enjoy the sounds of various kinds of music, while others find them distracting or upsetting. That is why some therapists opt to prescribe only certain kinds of music that their clients will enjoy.
They will also take into account that some patients with heightened sensitivity to music will need assistance in avoiding music that causes pain, damage or offense. While these individuals may not be able to join in on a music therapy session, they can still benefit from passive interventions outside the session such as listening to guided imagery recordings featuring music.
Thanks to digital technology, many therapists can now design and distribute custom interventions outside of scheduled sessions. These can be sent directly to a client’s smartphone or tablet so they can access them at their leisure in the privacy of their own home.
The therapist may encourage the client to create music of their own making and discover how it can be used to enhance their lives. For instance, music could boost self-esteem or help them conquer social challenges in life.
Children with learning disabilities may find mindfulness beneficial. It promotes social skills as well as academic ones by encouraging empathy, turn taking and compromise.
Music therapy has the potential to enhance speech and communication abilities as well as sensory integration and physical motor development.
Music therapy has an additional positive effect on premature babies’ health, such as improving their cardiac and respiratory function. Furthermore, it reduces parents’ stress levels and strengthens relationships between them.
Finally, it can lower blood pressure and systolic blood pressure for those with hypertension or other heart-related conditions. Furthermore, it has been known to improve cognitive abilities in those suffering from traumatic brain injury.
Some potential disadvantages of music therapy include hearing issues, memory triggering and overemotionality. The best way to determine if you will benefit from this type of therapy is by consulting your doctor or a music therapist about your individual needs and objectives for the session.