Music Therapy

So you love music... but what exactly IS Music Therapy anyways?

Music Therapy is the use of music and musical elements to address non-musical goals. No musical ability is needed to participate in Music Therapy!

Music is intrinsically motivating and rewarding, making therapy fun and engaging.

Music therapy is a type of treatment where a certified music therapist uses music to help people reach personal goals. 

It can involve listening to music, singing, playing instruments, or even creating songs. 

Music therapy is used to help with things like managing emotions, improving memory, developing social skills, or even recovering from injuries. 

It’s a fun and engaging way to work through challenges, and it can be used by people of all ages in places like hospitals, schools, or therapy centres.

Personal Goals

Music Therapists work within the seven domains to first assess and then develop a treatment plan with specific goals and objectives that are tailored to each client’s needs.

Goals for the client might also come from information from the family, other therapists, behavioural consultant and/or the school’s IEP. The Music Therapist takes these goals and develops music based activities to address them!

Learn More About the Seven Domains
hand on the piano keys
hand playing guitar strings

Typical Session

A typical session includes music making and music based activities. Some common activities include:

  • Listening to music: The therapist might select specific pieces of music to evoke certain emotions or responses.
  • Active music-making: Clients may play instruments (usually small percussion) or participate in group music-making activities.
  • Songwriting or improvisation: Clients can express themselves by creating music, whether through lyrics or sound.
  • Guided relaxation to music: Clients can practice calming their body and mind with prompts from the Music Therapist, followed by time for reflection.
  • Moving to music: Especially important for our younger clients, we make sure to include lots of body breaks that improve coordination and listening skills!

    • How Does It Work?

    1. Assessment

    First we complete an assessment using the seven domain areas. Assessment happens the first time we meet the client, in addition to reviewing any reports and information given to us from either the client themselves, family, school or other professionals. 

    2. Sessions

    Using our assessment, we turn goals for the client into musical activities that they will participate in during sessions. Sessions usually follow a similar structure each time with opportunities for improv and clients choices built into the structure. We use client preferred music during sessions to improve engagement!

    3. Re-evaluation

    After tracking how well the created interventions are working for the client, we can reassess at that point! Sometimes small re-evaluations happen within sessions themselves where we can “level” up or down our activities, and more formal re-evaluations happen usually every 6 months – 1 year. 

    For More Information About Music Therapy:

     

     Music Therapy Association of BC: mtabc.com

    Canadian Association of Music Therapy: musictherapy.ca

    Music Heals: musicheals.ca

    Music Therapy Fund: musictherapytrust.ca 

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