Music therapy is the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional who has completed an approved music therapy program.
Music therapy interventions can be designed to:
- Alleviate Pain
- Enhance Memory
- Improve Communication
- Promote Physical Rehabilitation
- Promote Wellness
- Manage Stress
- Express Feelings
Research in music therapy supports its effectiveness in a wide variety of healthcare and educational settings. (Source AMTA, 2013)
What do music therapists do?
Assess:
- neurologic function
- sensory processing
- emotional well-being
- physical health
- social functioning,
- communication abilities
- cognitive skills
Design music interventions using:
- sensory integration
- improvisation
- receptive music listening
- song writing
- lyric discussion
- music and imagery
- music performance
Who can benefit from music therapy?
- children
- adolescents,
- adults
- elderly
Conditions
- mental health
- developmental and learning disabilities
- autism spectrum
- dementia
- substance abuse
- brain injuries
- physical disabilities
- acute and chronic pain
- childbirth
Who is qualified to practice music therapy?
- Bachelor’s degree from accredited program
- 1,040 internship hours
- Maintain national board certification offered by the Certification Board for Music Therapists (MT-BC)