What is Music Therapy?
Music Therapy is a type of allied health profession that is clinically and evidence-based in its practice. Music therapy uses music interventions to accomplish individualized goals that are facilitated by a credentialed professional music therapist.
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Music therapists target non-musical goals, focusing on but not limited to: physical, emotional, cognitive, and social goals. After assessing strengths and needs of the client, the music therapist creates treatment plans and monitors ongoing progress throughout treatment using interventions and activities with musical instrumentation and vocalizations in individual and group sessions.
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Who It’s For
Children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly with mental health needs, developmental and learning disabilities, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease and other aging related conditions, substance abuse problems, brain injuries, physical disabilities, and acute and chronic pain, including mothers in labor can benefit from music therapy. Healthy individuals can use music as a wellness tool for stress reduction and relaxation.
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Why It Works
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Music strategies can develop new recreational and leisure skills
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Music captivates and maintains attention
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Music can increase appropriate social skills (turn-taking, following directions, cooperation, and participation)
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Music provides a way to express self through verbal & nonverbal means
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Music encourages positive forms of behavior
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Music develops independence, leadership, creativity & decision making skills
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Music can make positive changes in mood & emotional states
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Music enhances movement, including improvement of fine and gross motor functioning
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Music provides immediate feedback
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Music is success-oriented
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Why Choose Music Therapy?
That’s a great question! Some people use music therapy services because they respond well to arts-based methods (e.g., drama, art, music). Others have experienced limited success with more traditional therapy methods, and they simply want to try something new to address their problems. Some clients receive it in addition to other therapies, and they find that it enhances their overall recovery. People choose music therapy for a wide variety of reasons.
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Our Job
Music therapists assess emotional well-being, physical health, social functioning, communication abilities, and cognitive skills of an individual through musical responses; plan music sessions and experiences for individuals and groups based on client needs, continually evaluate progress, and follow up.
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Still not sure?
Here's a breakdown of the Music Therapy Stages
The music therapy process is comprised into six stages:
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First Session
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Assessment
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Treatment Plan
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Treatment Implementation
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Treatment Evaluation
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Treatment Termination
Stage 1: First Session
The first session is a time for beginning the process of gaining trust and rapport, while observing and taking notes about client's responses to the setting, the therapist, the music and or other presented stimuli. The music therapist attempts to establish certain conditions which would maximize the opportunity to develop a close working relationship with the client.
The objectives for what ought to be accomplished during the first session include:
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Developing Rapport
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Gathering Information
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Observing
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Further defining the problem and goal
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Outlining responsibilities of client and therapist
Stage 2: Assessment
A general assessment will be conducted by way of systematic observation in order to determine the client's strengths, areas of need, and functional level.
Criteria to consider:
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Communication Skills
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Cognitive Skills
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Sensory Processing
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Motor Skills
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Psycho-social and Emotional Skills
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Musical Skills
Stage 3. Treatment Plan
The treatment plan is the process of developing a hierarchy, or a series of objectives and target behaviors, that will carry out the goal of therapy. The treatment plan will outline how the client is expected to progress throughout the course of therapy sessions.
The treatment plan may include:
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A review of the assessment report
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A hierarchy of objectives and target behaviors
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A brief description of music therapy strategies
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A design: case study, experimental group, or individual therapy
Stage 4. Treatment Implementation
Includes:
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Contracting
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Session Planning
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Describing client's progress
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Reviewing the therapeutic relationship
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Revising procedures
Stage 5. Treatment Evaluation and Documentation
In this stage, the therapist attempts to define if music therapy has been successful in reaching the goals set forth in the treatment plan.
This evaluation will determine the degree of success or failure of therapy to reach outlined therapeutic goals.
Stage 6. Treatment Termination
Music therapist determines termination when client has attained all goals, fails to benefit from service, can no longer be scheduled, or is discharged.
This stage includes:
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Treatment summary of the client's progress
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A Date for the last session
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A plan for phasing out sessions, if feasible
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Recognition of client's feelings regarding termination
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A focus on the client's future, including recommendation for other services and plans for reassessment or follow-up.