Music Therapy For Children And Adults
Charity Bomb is a music-centric organization. Nathan (Charity Bomb co-founder, twin brother, singer for our band Madina Lake) and I were avid music fans long before we ever wrote the stuff. When we listen to a number that rocks our world, you can almost experience the neurons cruising through our frontal lobes and creating the desired emotion before heading south to the amygdala, where the experience actually and literally, changes our physiology. It came as no surprise to us that Music Therapy would emerge as an effective psychotherapy for all. Here is some useful information on the subject:
What is Music Therapy?
Music Therapy is the clinical use of music to accomplish individualized goals such as reducing stress, improving mood and self-expression. It is an evidence-based therapy well-established in the health community. Music Therapy experiences may include listening, singing, playing instruments, or composing music. Musical skills or talents are not required to participate.
What can you expect in a Music Therapy session?
Music therapists assess emotional well-being, physical health, social functioning, communication abilities, and cognitive skills through musical responses; design music sessions for individuals and groups based on client needs using music improvisation, receptive music listening, song writing, lyric discussion, music and imagery, music performance, and learning through music; participate in interdisciplinary treatment planning, ongoing evaluation, and follow up.
What are the benefits of Music Therapy?
Music therapy may help you psychologically, emotionally, physically, spiritually, cognitively, and socially. Check out this abbreviated list of benefits as they relate to mental health:
Lowering blood pressure
Enhanced communication and social skills through experiencing music with others
Self-reflection. Observing your thoughts and emotions
Reducing muscle tension
Self-regulation. Developing healthy coping skills to manage your thoughts and emotions
Increasing motivation
Managing pain
Increasing joy
Who are ideal candidates for Music Therapy?
Formal music therapy was defined and first used by the United States War Department in 1945. It helped military service members recovering in Army hospitals with occupational therapy, education, recreation and physical reconditioning. Music therapists work with:
Victims of trauma and crisis. If you’ve experienced trauma and crisis, you might have anxiety, stress and pain. Music therapy can help you with decreasing those three experiences, improving your mood, feeling confident and in control and providing a non-verbal outlet for emotions.
Those who are physically ill.The list includes, but is not limited to people with chronic pain, diabetes, cardiac conditions, cancer, headaches, recent surgery and people in rehab.
Individuals with mental health disorders. If you’re dealing with a mental health disorder, music therapy can help you with communication and expression, help you explore your thoughts and feelings, improve your mood and concentration and develop coping skills.
Military service members and veterans. Music therapy helps you cope with trauma.
People with chronic pain. Music therapy can help decrease your pain, anxiety, fatigue and depression.
Substance abusers. Music therapy may help if you have a substance abuse disorder. Research has shown that it can increase motivation and self-esteem, reduce muscle tension, decrease anxiety, improve self-awareness and strengthen coping skills.
What is Music Therapy’s role in the mental well-being of children?
Music therapy has an abundance of data that demonstrates its most effective use for children dealing with:
Behavior disorders
Mood and anxiety disorders
Attention deficit/Hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
Trauma
Substance abuse disorders
Research in music therapy supports its effectiveness in six areas: psychological, emotional, physical, spiritual, cognitive, and social:
Emotional:
Music can call up repressed (bottled up) emotions that may then be released.
Music can lessen feelings of isolation.
Improved mood.
Decreased depression.
Anxiety reduction.
Self-expression.
Stress management.
Physical:
Music can affect the body by changing your heart rate and lowering blood pressure and respiration (breathing) rate.
Improved motor development or processing.
Relaxation and/or improved sleep.
It can physically stimulate conscious or unconscious body movements, such as toe tapping or large body movements, and improved gait (walking) and speech.
Management of and/or distraction from pain.
Reduced asthma episodes.
Reduced pain.
Help premature infants with weight gain and sleep.
Help people with Parkinson’s disease improve their motor functions.
Spiritual:
Music can open the door spiritually and allow you and your family the opportunity to explore your own spiritual beliefs.
Cognitive:
Music can provide an increased sense of control.
Coping skills.
Lessen the effects of dementia.
Social:
Music can bring people together socially, not just at large gatherings such as parties, weddings, or funerals, but in more informal, intimate, shared experiences, like a hospital room
Help autistic children improve communication.
Want some data to support Music Therapy?
HERE you go!
Where can you find a rockin’ Music Therapist?
Go to Musictherapy.org
Go Get ‘Em!
Love,
Matthew
