When integrating music into therapy, the reasons for it and goals, are developed between the music therapist and the client.
Music therapy is a clinical and evidence-based practice.
A credentialed professional music therapist uses music within a therapeutic relationship to achieve individualized, non-musical goals.
Using music in therapy can be helpful for many treatment issues, including:
- Overcoming trauma, moving through grief, overcoming anxiety and depression
- Stress management
- Improving self-esteem and/or confidence
- Exploring of emotions related to life stressors and events
- Supporting healthy feelings and thoughts
- Increasing emotional and body awareness
- Providing opportunities for self-expression both verbally and non-verbally
- To have a shared and connected experience, supported by music, where you feel seen and heard
Do I need to be a musician or musical to benefit from Music Therapy?
No! While instruments can be used and songs can be written and/or listened to in your therapy sessions, music therapy is not about learning to play an instrument, becoming a singer or anything of that sort. You do not need to own an instrument, have any knowledge of reading music, singing or how to play an instrument. Your music therapist will provide what you need in session and have ideas on how you can use music in your healing outside of session.
How is it helpful to include music in my therapy?
Music therapy is for anyone who feels like music is or can be helpful for them. It is an alternative or additional way for us to listen to each other and to express our thoughts and feelings. Sometimes it’s hard to find the right words to fully communicate our experience. Sometimes we know the words we would use but find it especially difficult to actually say them. Music can do that for you – help you get out those things that words can’t fully capture or that are too hard to say. Music can also help you discover new, positive things inside you and help you build on those and find your voice, your words, your strength and inspiration.
You may have heard music described as a universal language. That is because as humans we are uniquely musical. Music is a “core human experience” and “music is something that can promote human well-being by facilitating human contact, human meaning, and human imagination of possibilities, tying it to our social instincts” (Schulkin & Raglan, 2014).
What will we do when we include music in my therapy?
The music that is most powerful and transformative for each of us is the music that we like the most. Therefore, we will usually begin by talking about what music you like and what role or function music plays in your life. This will provide the groundwork to continue to explore what types of music experiences may be helpful.
Some interventions commonly used in music therapy in addition to traditional verbal techniques are:
- Music listening
- Song singing
- Lyric analysis/discussion
- Song-writing
- Vocal or instrumental improvisation
- Beat making
- Mindfulness and breathing exercises
- Moving, stretching, dancing
- Music assisted guided imagery
- Music assisted relaxation techniques (i.e. autogenic relaxation, progressive muscle relaxation)
- Instrument playing (piano, guitar, drums and other percussion instruments, digital/midi interfaces, etc.)
For additional information on music therapy, you can visit The American Music Therapy Association at www.musictherapy.org
References
Schulkin, J., & Raglan, G. B. (2014). The evolution of music and human social capability. Frontiers in neuroscience, 8, 292.
Music Therapy at
Bluestone Psychological Services
Heal what needs healing; release what’s inside waiting to come forth.