A recent survey of music therapists reported that the majority of therapists see clients in weekly 50min sessions, some in groups and some individual sessions, in order to maximize treatment goals and objectives (Kern, P, et al., Journal of Music Therapy, 50(4), 2013, 274–303). The survey didn’t include why music therapists chose to treat clients weekly as opposed to once or twice per month. But I can tell you three reasons why I believe weekly sessions are important. They are; Social skill development and retention, consistency, and physiological and neurological changes.
The first issue to examine is Social Skills Development and Retention – One of the primary ways that music therapists get people to interact with the music is to create a trusting environment. This is important whether or not your client is a young child with developmental delays or and older adult recovering from stroke or anything in between. And this is also necessary whether it is an individual or a group setting. As a therapist I provide opportunities for clients to get involved in the music making. I am inviting them to play an instrument they may have never played before, and to sing and move in ways that may not be easy. In order for me to engage them, I need to provide a safe, friendly and motivating opportunity for that person to succeed. In order to build the level of trust, sessions must happen often enough that the client can remember the therapist, or at least the comfortable environment created by the therapist. When working with dementia patients this becomes a crucial element to support their functioning level, skill retention, and provide more opportunities for interaction. The patients in my memory care groups don’t remember my name, or what I do, but they do remember that they like me.
Group sessions support social skill development and participants engage with other group members in meaningful and appropriate ways during the music making process. Each individual is encouraged to make choices such as what instrument to play or what song to sing. They are encouraged to participate in discussions and to work cooperatively in the music making. The more these skills are practiced the better the carry over into other areas of daily life. ScienceDaily cited research from the Pertanika Journal that stated that weekly music therapy sessions can have a positive effect on behavior in children with autism.
In the next post I will explain the importance of consistency of weekly sessions.