Music Therapy
What Is Music Therapy?
Music therapy incorporates elements of music—including singing, songwriting, and playing instruments—into the healing process. By offering emotional comfort and relief, music can serve as a safe yet powerful outlet for exploring and expressing emotions.
Is Music Therapy Considered A Valid Mental Health Treatment?
Done by trained and board-certified music therapists, this approach was introduced to the mental health field in the early twentieth century. In 1998, the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA) was established, creating ethics and guidelines that could be standardized across the country. Today, music therapy is regarded as an effective treatment method for addressing a wide range of concerns.
Music therapy is tailored to the specific needs and therapeutic goals of each client, though it’s generally used to promote mood regulation, calming effects, and a reduction in anxiety. And research shows that listening to music has the ability to lower cortisol and release endorphins, making it beneficial for just about anyone.
Specifically, music therapy provides a non-threatening, nonverbal means of expression, which is particularly healing for those struggling with the effects of trauma or depression or those on the Autism Spectrum, wherein verbally articulating oneself can be challenging.
What Happens In Music Therapy Sessions?
Music therapists work to build a supportive relationship with the client, integrating music-making activities that divert attention away from negative thought patterns and rumination. By helping clients focus on the present moment, music can effectively reduce distressing thoughts and feelings.
Throughout the process, clients are offered coping skills that can be applied in and outside of the therapeutic space. Relaxation techniques—including deep breathing and progressive muscle relaxation—are often introduced, using rhythms and harmonies as a guide. These techniques can be especially useful for combating anxiety and cognitive distortions.
Finally, music therapy offers the healing element of community, whether between an individual client and their therapist or in the context of group therapy. The act of collaborating in creation can have a positive effect on those struggling with feelings of loneliness and low self-esteem.
Acknowledging the universally healing quality of music, this form of therapy has the ability to foster meaningful connection and self-expression, especially where other therapeutic interventions may have fallen short.
As Creative Arts Therapists, Music Is One Of The Many Tools We Utilize
Arts Rx takes a multimodal approach to creative arts therapies, using music-making to provide our clients with personalized, tangible products to mark their healing journey.
Our licensed and board-certified music therapists have extensive experience in the field and work to individualize the therapeutic process, incorporating a range of creative interventions and adjusting objectives as needed. We work with children, teens, and adults in therapy and welcome those who are neurodiverse. Moreover, we are happy to offer our services to clients working with other providers—including psychiatrists, primary care physicians, and family members—and will coordinate care accordingly.
We’ve seen firsthand the effect that music has in promoting presence, stability, and emotional well-being among our clients. Using music therapy, they have been able to express themselves in an emotionally safe, contained manner that ultimately reduces mental health symptoms.
Harmonize Your Mental Health
If you are searching for a deeper, more creative therapeutic approach or if you could benefit from the nonverbal, non-threatening aspects of music-making, Arts Rx offers clients the powerful intervention of music therapy. For more information about how we can help, contact us.