Volume 18 Issue 1 » 39
While every music therapy session is different - and there is no one prescription - the following goals , regardless of age , are often requested :
• decrease stress and / or anxiety ;
• reclaim focus and productivity ;
• motivate movements and mobility ;
• ignite the memory ;
• increase comfort in a social environment ;
• improve capacity for new learning and attention ;
• boost confidence and feelings of selfworth ; and in general ,
• “ feel better .”
In recent times the increase of being asked to target emotional well-being , mood regulation , and overall mental health , has been on the rise . Music therapy is perfectly suited to this domain due to music ’ s very nature of bypassing the verbal and going straight to the heart of the matter : feelings .
Music Therapists help give the brain a tune up . We have repeatedly witnessed individuals who have faced adversity using every ounce of their strength to recover , be it physically , cognitively , socially , or emotionally . Music , when used with skill and intention , is an effective and efficient resource that can dissolve the sense of stress and frustration . As stress declines individuals can remember what they need to do , tackle a new project with more flexible thinking , or generally feel a level of control they didn ’ t have just minutes before when they were triggered . The best part ? They are able to make their next , best decision with increased clarity and heart .
The ultimate aim of music therapy , like all therapy , is to help the individual take small and consistent steps towards their goals that often include returning to their home , quality of life activities , and getting back to satisfying work and life .
One example is Greg , a corporate executive and life-long athlete in his 50s who had a major stroke that rendered him unable to walk or talk . After three years of treatment he shares with others that , “ Music therapy helped me find myself when so much of me was taken away . The Music Therapist helped heal my voice , my hands , and my heart .”
Music Therapists help individuals find the right kind of music at the right time .
Just like our physical health , our mental health requires attention , perhaps now more than ever . Music Therapists believe there is no better way to give it the care it needs than through the right music , at the right time , and in the right way .
Clinician , researcher and author , Dr . Bruce Perry highlights one music element he feels is particularly effective . He says that “ the only way to move from super-high anxiety states , to calmer , more cognitive states , is rhythm .” He and others go on to support that by creating music , talking about it , or simply developing a purposeful playlist , a person can enter into a deep-seated creative process that will ease their mind and guide them to see the world through a different lens — helping them feel less stuck . Spending time in music therapy can provide so many of the things we crave as humans – challenges , validation , recognition , and an opportunity to express freely .
These results , and the hope for the future , indicate that every healthcare facility , employee assistance program , and learning centre has a Certified Music Therapist available for their people who seek development or change – regardless of age or circumstance .