Arushi Garg
Music As a Healing Therapy
Music has been a powerful tool for communication since time immemorial , and rightly so , since it possesses a magical quality that makes the listener gravitate towards its rhythmic chords . It evokes emotions that are hard to express through words , and channelling the same though music can also serve as therapeutic . Music therapists can understand the alluring nature of music and use it to help their patients effectively reduce stress levels , boost mood and enhance selfexpression in a conducive manner .
Though everyone can benefit from this type of therapy , it is mostly used on terminally ill patients , people with mental disorders , Alzheimer ’ s , Autism Spectrum Disorder and substance abuse . It has also shown great success in people who have experienced PTSD , like veterans and military officials . This therapy can take place in schools , hospitals , community centres and places with good access for all . In a typical session , a music therapist would assess the mental state of the patient and what are their strengths and weaknesses . After that , the patient will be asked to hear the music deeply , write a song , sing some lyrics and even play an instrument .
Many studies have shown a positive effect on the patient as it can actually have a profusely positive outcome for medical conditions . It was noted that people who listened to music during and before any surgery found their anxiety levels on a downward curve and a more
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