To create a complete experience of music that captures all its aspects including rhythm, melody, and lyrics, various brain regions must work together . The temporal lobe handles hearing and memory, the parietal lobe manages motor movements and spatial skills, and the occipital lobe processes visual information. Harmony is what makes music sound full, adding depth to a melody and even changing the mood of a song .
What are the risks of music therapy?
Research shows that music therapy can have an influence over mental and physical health. Music therapists know how powerful music can be; they help patients improve their health. Music therapy is a type of treatment that uses rhythm, pitch, tempo, and melody to support emotional and physical healing. She currently combines clinical practice as a health psychologist and music therapist with academic work, serving as teaching and research staff at several universities. She hopes to become a mental health therapist in the future.
Enhance Mood and Boost Positivity
Music therapy often takes place in outpatient clinics and other care environments to support clients facing mental health issues, from anxiety to trauma. They may only be able to offer their services through music therapy sessions without offering advice or the same level of care as a traditional therapist. To become a music therapist in the US, individuals must earn a bachelor’s degree or higher in music therapy and different music therapy methods from a program approved by the AMTA. One systematic review published in 2017 suggests that music therapy combined with traditional depression treatment may be more effective than traditional treatment by itself in reducing depressive symptoms. If you’re facing a procedure or illness, or just want relief from the stresses of daily life or help sticking to an exercise program, a music therapist may be able to help you.
Music and the Brain
Or a music therapist may come to you while you’re in a hospital or school. No, you don’t need musical skills or talents to participate. Music therapists work with people of all ages, including young children and adolescents. Music therapy helps people of all ages (children, adolescents and adults) and from all walks of life.
Research reveals key benefits ranging from pain relief to improved mood. For children, sessions may teach cooperation and boost social confidence. Music therapy can be as simple as listening to music or playing instruments. The goal is to support emotional well-being with personalized, evidence-based methods.
The Transformative Power of Music in Mental Well-Being
A music therapist can help you understand more about the unique aspects of music therapy and how it may benefit you. This is why some healthcare professionals, like nurses, play music at the bedside to help Healing through music people who are recovering or in pain. It doesn’t require a music therapist and can involve a range of experiences. You’ll work with your music therapist to decide how many sessions you’d like, how long they should be and how often you should meet.
Music can also serve as a catalyst for social connection and support, breaking down barriers and bridging divides. Music artists who engage in activism can reach new supporters and help their fans feel more connected to issues and motivated to participate.6 The impact of socially conscious music has been observed in movements such as civil rights, feminism, and LGBTQ+ rights, where songs have played a pivotal role in mobilizing communities and effecting change.
Music therapy uses music to reach the goals set in each client’s treatment plan. For children, integrating melody into therapy can guide them through transitions and support a child’s development in language and motor coordination. Sessions often include singing or drumming circles to lift mood and support emotional well-being. Music therapists use playing instruments and lyric discussion in these settings to foster self‐expression and build communication skills.
- Music therapists tailor treatments for individual patients, based on their needs.
- Music therapy is a medical practice that uses music to address the physical, mental, emotional, and social needs of patients.
- Today, there are over 9,000 credentialed music therapists in the United States and abroad.
- As stress and anxiety are often connected to depression, addressing all three at once can be beneficial.
- It has the ability to transform our mental, emotional and even physical health.”
- Music therapists use playing instruments and lyric discussion in these settings to foster self‐expression and build communication skills.
For hospitalized patients, a simple favorite song can be a comforting reminder of home and normalcy, reducing perceived pain and speeding recovery from physical ailments. In nursing homes and senior centers, shared musical experiences often boost self-esteem and self-confidence, bringing residents together. Over time, regular music therapy sessions can ease anxiety and help sustain overall well-being.
Certified music practitioners (MT-BC) may integrate other forms of art for a holistic approach. If you’re looking to get matched and meet with a licensed talk therapist, you might explore BetterHelp as an option. However, if you face barriers to attending in-person therapy sessions, like cost, scheduling, or availability, you might try online therapy instead.
Over the course of multiple sessions, patients should experience improvements to their health. Doctors refer certain patients for music therapy, if they may benefit from the treatment. It has the ability to transform our mental, emotional and even physical health.” “Music is a companion for people on that journey to finding themselves,” says music therapist Zach Fischer. As our knowledge grows, so does its potential as a rehabilitative tool to enhance quality of life, making music therapy a field full of exciting opportunities for progress.
How Music Therapy Can Improve Physical and Mental Health
When you meet with a music therapist, they may ask about your music preferences. If someone has gone through a personal trauma, it is recommended that their music therapy is one-on-one. These experiences can have lasting health consequences, including PTSD. For example, writing a personal theme song can help create feelings of safety and empowerment, while working with others to write a song supports emotional expression and trauma processing. However, music therapy might also bring buried memories to the surface. When veterans experience flashbacks, listening to calming music can help them stay focused on the present instead of reliving trauma.
- There are many kinds of hurtful childhood experiences, including traumas that affect children’s physical, mental, or emotional wellbeing .
- Leaving their homes behind means losing their culture and family, which is very emotionally disturbing.
- Through music, individuals can express their unique experiences, struggles, and triumphs, forging connections with others who share similar backgrounds.
- In addition, many people find music cathartic when they can feel the rhythm in their body and experience it in a sensory way.
This refers to music played by an accredited therapeutic musician that provides a positive environment for a patient to promote their healing. Therapeutic music is considered an art. There are different kinds of music therapies. By creating music, one can express themselves nonverbally.
What should I expect after my music therapy session?
PTSD is not limited to adults—children can also experience it. Leaving their homes behind means losing their culture and family, which is very emotionally disturbing. Refugees who endure extremely traumatic experiences in their home countries and during perilous escapes are another example. Avoidance might involve staying away from loud environments that remind them of their bad experiences. Click this link to watch an interview with Ms. Ashley Haywood, as she shares the impact of music on her 9-year-old daughter with Sanfilippo syndrome, Ms. Sadie Haywood.
Commendably, many artists such as Adele, Alanis Morrisette, Ariana Grande, Billie Eilish, Kendrick Lamar, Kid Cudi and Demi Lovato have spoken out about their mental health battles, from postpartum depression to suicidal ideation. Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Empirical Aesthetics in Germany found that musically active people have, on average, a higher genetic risk for depression and bipolar disorder. Considering the healing effects of music, it may seem paradoxical that musicians may be at a higher risk of mental health disorders.8 A recent survey of 1,500 independent musicians found that 73% have symptoms of mental illness.
“It’s amazing that someone can have moderate-to-severe memory problems, but they maintain their music memory and remember songs or prayers,” he said. People with dementia can develop behavioral problems, such as agitation or aggression, and music is sometimes used to address those types of issues without prescribing medication. Music can distract and relieve worries and pain. People across all cultures engage in music and the arts in various ways.
How many music therapy sessions do I need?
Using clinical music therapy methods like guided improvisation may boost cognitive skills and offer a nonverbal way to process feelings. Music therapists build a strong therapeutic relationship with clients by making music and listening together. As depression symptoms can sometimes make it difficult to leave home or have the motivation to attend sessions, an online therapy session can make receiving support more convenient and offer key benefits.
The symptoms of PTSD include reliving painful memories, avoiding certain places or sounds, and emotional disturbances like fear or anger . While Sadie has not received formal music therapy, her story highlights the potential of music as a powerful tool. As noted in the interview, music plays an important role in Ms. Sadie Haywood’s life, helping her family to connect and communicate with her. Often called “childhood Alzheimer’s”, Sanfilippo syndrome is a rare genetic disease that causes children to lose all the skills they have gained . During this developmental period, the medial prefrontal cortex, responsible for linking emotions to personal identity, is highly active, making music from that time meaningful.