What Is Music Therapy?
Music therapy is an effective treatment for mental health issues. It can improve your mood and reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress. Furthermore, it enhances physical and psychological wellbeing as well.
Music therapy is a hands-on therapeutic intervention that incorporates music into a psychotherapeutic process. Its foundation rests on the idea that everyone has the capacity to create music and can benefit from using musical skills in various contexts.
This method encourages patients to create their own music by playing instruments, singing or writing songs in a non-threatening environment. It helps patients hone their musical skills and boost self-esteem and confidence through participation in an artistic, social process.
Many clients find this type of intervention particularly meaningful as it allows them to become part of a supportive community of musicians and songwriters. Furthermore, it helps them hone vocal skills and learn how to read music, which may be difficult for some individuals with developmental disabilities.
At times, music from various genres may be employed in therapy to help the patient express their feelings and emotions. Classical music in particular is often employed to spark imaginations.
This approach can be especially beneficial for those suffering from trauma or PTSD and helps facilitate healing by helping clients express their emotions through music. However, this form of expressive arts therapy requires an immense level of dedication and commitment on behalf of the therapist.
Music therapists must accurately assess their client’s emotional state and create a tailored treatment plan that meets their individual needs. This requires conducting an extensive intake session as well as ongoing, detailed assessments throughout their relationship.
Music therapists have an additional role as developers of music interventions and programs. To stay current on research in this field, music therapists must stay abreast of developments in both fields.
Music therapists typically employ two primary forms of interventions: active and passive. Active interventions require clients to engage in some kind of musical activity, such as dancing or playing an instrument; whereas, passive treatments involve listening only. Some therapists prescribe both types of treatments while others recommend one over the other.
Passive interventions may be more convenient for some clients, particularly those with hectic schedules or who cannot attend in-person sessions. In such cases, music therapists could utilize technology to design and deliver customized passive interventions outside of scheduled appointments.
For example, a client suffering from chronic pain might be encouraged to listen to guided imagery recordings featuring music. These can be sent via digital psychotherapy platforms like Quenza, which enable therapists to send pre-recorded audio clips directly onto their clients’ smartphones or tablets.
Recently, research demonstrated the efficacy of whole steps music therapy in improving emotional and behavioral development among children from refugee backgrounds. This approach proved particularly helpful for refugee children enrolled in educational programs at schools who need to practice social and emotional skills to adjust to their new environment.
