Music Therapy

What is music therapy? 

Music therapy uses music to address an individualized goal that may or may not be related to music. Music therapists use clinical and evidenced-based music interventions that are carefully planned and designed for each individual person based upon their strengths, needs, and interests. Only a trained and credentialed music therapist can practice music therapy. 

In addition to completing an approved college music therapy program and 1200 clinical hours including a supervised internship, music therapists must pass the national board certification exam to receive the credentials MT-BC (music therapist - board certified). Each state may also have their own specific licensing requirements. In Ohio, music therapists are licensed as “Licensed Professional Music Therapists”, or LPMTs. 

Here are just a few reasons someone may choose music therapy:

• To improve focus and attention

• To improve pre-academic skills such as following directions, remaining engaged, and completing tasks 

• To improve communication skills

• To improve social skills and engagement with others 

• To help cope with anxiety, depression, trauma, and/or other mental health needs

• To support and improve recovery from brain injuries or other physical challenges

• To improve or maintain quality of life in memory care 

• To reduce stress

• To improve overall well-being

For more information about music therapy, please visit the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA) website at www.musictherapy.org. 

Who may benefit from music therapy?

Music therapists work with people of all ages, from infancy through end of life. Anyone of any age and in any stage of life may benefit from music therapy. Music therapy can be especially helpful for people with mental health needs, intellectual and developmental disabilities, Autism, Alzheimer’s disease and memory care needs, hospice care, substance abuse, brain injuries and recovery, and physical disabilities, and more. 

If you are curious if you might benefit from music therapy, please reach out so we can connect. 

What does the music therapy process look like? 

All new music therapy clients will first complete a music therapy assessment, where the music therapist will spend time getting to know you, your interests, your strengths, and your reasons for seeking music therapy. The therapist may then provide a few different music experiences for you to participate in to gauge how you respond and feel. Based upon this session, the therapist will provide written recommendations for you. If music therapy is determined to be a good fit, you will move on to music therapy treatment sessions to work on specific goals agreed upon by you and the music therapist. 

A typical music therapy session can be 30 minutes, 45 minutes, or 60 minutes depending on each person. Music therapy is typically most successful with consistency over time, so sessions are often recommended to be weekly for an extended amount of time, again dependent on each person. 

Sessions are typically structured the same week to week. Sessions will begin with an opening that may be musical, such as a “hello song,” or may be verbal, such as a check-in about how you may be feeling that day. The middle of the session may include playing live instruments, singing, guided song-writing, music listening and discussion, music relaxation, music and movement, and more, dependent on each person’s interest and needs. Sessions will always end either with a “goodbye song” or with a verbal closure discussion.