What is Music Therapy and What Can it Do For You?

History

Music has been recognized for its positive effect on human health and behaviour since the time of Plato and Aristotle. The earliest known mention of “music therapy” appeared in the Columbian Magazine in 1789 in a piece titled “Music Physically Considered.” Although, it was not until the 1940s that music therapy began to be recognized as an official clinical profession, largely due to the positive effect music had on soldiers returning from war in the 20th century.

Following the First and second World Wars, musicians would visit veteran hospitals and perform for wounded soldiers. Hospital employees began to recognize the positive effect that music was having on the emotional and physical well-being of patients and incorporated music more regularly into veterans’ treatment. It was after this that music therapy began to develop as a profession with colleges popping up around the world. Today, music therapy remains a popular treatment for military service members and veterans coping with trauma.

What To Expect

Each session will begin by touching base with your music therapist who will discuss your current emotional and phycological well-being with you to better assess your needs. Working together to identify your goals, your music therapist will consider the following factors:

·      Your music preferences

·      Your age and development level

·      Your physical abilities

·      Your cognitive abilities

·      Trauma triggers

While every session will look different, depending on your needs, it will typically include some variation of the following:

·      Creating music

·      Singing

·      Listening to music

·      Moving to music

·      Discussing lyrics

·      Playing an instrument

Benefits

Music therapy can be beneficial in treating a range of psychological, emotional, physical, spiritual, cognitive, and social issues. It has been known to improve clients’ memory, lower blood pressure, enhance communication skills and aid in the development of healthy coping skills. It has also shown positive results with Alzheimer’s patients, helping them recover and maintain their memory. Treatment can have both mental and physical benefits such as reduced stress, improved mood, release of pent-up emotions, improved sleep, lowered heart rate, reduced pain, and improved motor function.

Conclusion

Music therapy is a beneficial treatment for anyone looking to delve deeper into their psyche and relieve pent-up emotions, trauma, and pain. It is a useful tool for recovering lost memories and can also help with physical ailments such as chronic pain as many patients report a reduction in pain following a session. Experience the benefits for yourself when you book with our music therapist, Robin Soper.