Music Therapy

What is music therapy?

Guitars Music therapy is the use of music to help restore, maintain and improve the body's overall sense of health and well-being. Music is used in a variety of different ways and structured to suit the client's needs, thus helping to improve physical and mental functioning. One theory for the effectiveness of music therapy is that it distracts the mind from pain and anxiety.

What will music therapy involve?

A music therapist, who is highly skilled and trained, will assess the client's strengths and weaknesses and then decide on their therapeutic goals and objectives, using his/her knowledge of music's effect on behaviour. Some of the activities may involve the use of musical instruments, singing, discussing lyrics, listening and moving to music, composition and music imagery exercises.

Can anyone benefit from this form of therapy?

Yes. Music therapy can benefit a wide range of people. Therapists work in schools, hospitals, hospices, treatment centres and private practices and can help anyone with minor problems, through to more serious illnesses, or physical disabilities like:

Mental illness
Physically handicapped people
Brain injuries
Learning difficulties

What other benefits does music therapy have?

Music therapy has been known to reduce pain and relieve stress. Research has shown that, along with anti-nausea drugs, music therapy can ease nausea and vomiting experienced by cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment.

Music therapy can reduce the severity of pain when taking painkilling drugs and has, in some cases, allowed patients to reduce the intake of their painkilling drugs.

It can also assist in:

Improving communication skills
Improving bad behaviour
Increasing attention spans
Strengthening social and leisure skills
Lowering blood pressure
Relieving sleeping disorders
Reducing depression

Although it is not primarily the object of the therapy, a greater appreciation of music may emerge through regular sessions.