Music is an incredible mode of therapy. It has an ability to reveal truths, express oneself and to heal. One DOES NOT need any musical skills or background to participate in music therapy. Music Therapy can be for someone who wants to go to a psychologist, but wants to use a different medium than a standard purely verbal approach.
There are two main approaches to music therapy: music in therapy and music as therapy.
Music in Therapy
The music is an integral part to the therapeutic process in addition to the verbal part of the therapy. Music is an incredible instrument to gain access to our unconscious and through the music the therapist and patient can gain valuable therapeutic insights. Music can also be used to relax, boost confidence, express the patients needs and desires as well as to heal.
Examples of music in therapy:
- Song writing- allows us to express ourselves in ways that we sometimes can not through regular speaking. I will help facilitate the song writing and use professional instruments, microphone and recording tools to create the best results possible
- Improvisation- The clients and/or the therapist use the wide variety of musical instruments in any way imaginable to express a mood, concept or event. This is a powerful tool to help access our unconscious and express ourselves.
- Listening to music- This can be used for relaxation, meditation and accessing the unconscious. The music can be live or recorded.
Music as Therapy
The music itself is the therapy. This is a nonverbal mode of therapy. It is commonly used for people who can not or do not want to express themselves verbally The music then becomes the mode of communication and healing.
Examples of people who would benefit from this mode of therapy: people with autism, schizophrenia, depression, down syndrome, selective mutism, young children, alzheimers, dementia, babies, hospital patients…