Can Music heal?

Music Therapy is the clinical 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 is useful because music triggers whole brain processes and functioning which directly affect one’s cognitive, emotional, and physical functions and abilities.

In the therapy music is used within a therapeutic relationship to address physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of individuals. After assessing the strengths and needs of every patient, the qualified music therapist provides the indicated treatment including creating, singing, moving to, and/or listening to music. Through musical involvement in the therapeutic context, clients’ abilities are strengthened and transferred to other areas of their lives.

It helps in promoting wellness, managing stress, alleviation of pain, expression of feelings, memory enhancement, improvement of communication, promoting physical rehabilitation and improving socialisation and quality of life. Research in music therapy supports its effectiveness in many areas such as: overall physical rehabilitation and facilitating movement, increasing people’s motivation to become engaged in their treatment, providing emotional support for clients and their families, and providing an outlet for expression of feelings.

Music Therapy is useful because music triggers whole brain processes and functioning which directly affect one’s cognitive, emotional, and physical functions and abilities. Everyone has the ability to respond to music and sound so a variety of approaches are used. Fundamental to all is the development of a therapeutic relationship between the client and the therapist. Each usually play an active role in each session with clients being encouraged to use a range of instruments including their own voice. This allows them to explore the world of sound and to create a musical language of their own.