Music Therapy: What is it?

 

I'm pretty sure were all familiar with different type of clinical rehabilitation. If you're an athlete, you may have ended up in physical therapy once or twice due to an injury. There's occupational therapy that helps aid in daily physical and cognitive skills. Speech therapy helps aid the development of speech and language. But there's one branch of therapy that not many people know much of, and that's music therapy. Music therapy is a way to reduce stress and improve mood and self expression. It can be used sometimes in clinical settings, and I feel most people have little understanding of how it actually helps people.

What is Music Therapy?

    As previously mentioned, music therapy "involves the clinical use of music to accomplished individualized goals such as reducing stress, improving mood, and self-expression". It provides treatment to everyone, but is especially beneficial to those who suffer with depression and anxiety, and it can also help improve quality of life to those with physical disabilities. Other benefits include improving memory, enhanced communication and social skills, increasing motivation, and self-reflection.

Type of Music Therapy

    Within the division of music therapy comes many subdivisions of it too. Each subdivision address a different type of need, whether is be cognitive, physical, or behavioral. Some subdivisions are analytical music therapy, cognitive behavioral music therapy, and vocal psychotherapy. In analytical music therapy, you are encourage to improvise a musical "dialogue" to express unconscious thoughts, and these can be expressed through singing or playing an instrument. In cognitive behavioral music therapy, the purpose of music is to reinforce certain behaviors and modify others. It can include listening to music or singing, and it is structured toward the specific need of the patient. in vocal psychotherapy, vocal exercises and breathing techniques are used for the purpose of creating a deeper sense of connection with yourself.

Is Music Therapy Effective?

    Yes, it definitely is! Key findings in clinical studies show how music is helpful for those with depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, and even cancer. It can also help with those who have ADHD or trauma, as well as those with substance abuse disorders. Music therapy helps with many aspects of life, it this is just proof of one of the many ways music has an impact on an individual.

Sources: 

https://www.verywellmind.com/benefits-of-music-therapy-89829

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/8817-music-therapy