Music therapy is the use of music and music-based interventions that are based on clinical practice and research in a therapeutic relationship aimed at addressing non-musical needs and goals.
What Does Music Therapy Help?
The needs and goals of music therapy can be related to:
- Emotional processing and self-expression
- Movement
- Cognitive training
- Pain management
- Speech and communication
- Sleep improvement
- Psychosocial symptom management, such as mood adjustment or anxiety reduction
Board-certified music therapists take a client-centered approach to treatment plan development: that is, clients can determine their needs, goals, and type of intervention, as well as preferred music experience.
Music is a unique sensory experience that can stimulate multiple brain areas at the same time, enabling facilitation of motivation, positive mood, attention, memory, and movement. In fact, music can both stimulate and soothe the nervous system, facilitating alert engagement and relaxation.
In fact, music can both stimulate and soothe the nervous system, facilitating alert engagement and relaxation.
Specific Music Interventions can Include:
- Active music-making – such as instrument playing, improvisation, singing, dancing, or songwriting
- Receptive interventions – such as mindfulness-based music therapy, guided listening and discussion, associative music and memory, or music-assisted relaxation
A person needs no prior knowledge of music to benefit from music therapy, and because music is a universal language that appeals in some way to individuals of all ages, ethnicities, and cultures, as well as being readily accessible at little or no cost, music therapy represents an adjuvant treatment modality that is applicable to anyone, anywhere.
Music therapy sessions are available on an individual or group basis, in person or via telehealth.
Even a single individual session with a board-certified music therapist can shed light on ways to use daily music listening to promote focus, relaxation, and general well-being.