Resumo de What Is Music Therapy?

What is Music Therapy?
Music therapy is the prescribed use of music and musical interventions in order to restore, maintain, and improve emotional, physical, physiological, and spiritual health and well-being. Within this definition are the key elements which define interventions as music therapy.

Music therapy is prescribed by members of the client's treatment team. Members can include doctors, social workers, psychologists, teachers, case workers, or parents.
Music is the primary therapeutic tool. Using music to establish a trusting relationship, the music therapist then works to improve the client's physical and mental functioning through carefully structured activities. Examples can include singing, listening, playing instruments, composition, moving to music, and music and imagery exercises.
Music is administered by a trained music therapist. A music therapist's education and training is extensive. Musical interventions are developed and used by the therapist based on his/her knowledge of the music's affect on behavior, the client's strengths and weaknesses, and the therapeutic goals.
Music therapy is received by a client and it targets a wide range of clinical populations and client ages.
Music therapy works towards specific therapeutic goals and objectives. Goal area include communicative, academic, motor, emotional, and social skills. It is important to be aware that while clients may develop their musical skills during treatment, these skills are not the primary concern of the therapist. Rather it is the affect such musical development might have on the client's physical, psychological and socio-economical functioning.
Music Therapy:Frequently Asked Questions
1. What types of people do music therapists work with?
You can find music therapists working with a wide variety of people. Some examples include the mentally ill, the physically handicapped, those who have been abused, the elderly including those suffering from Alzheimer's and dementia, the terminally ill, the mentally retarded and the developmentally delayed, the traumatically brain injured, those with learning disabilities, as well as those persons who do not suffer from a clinical diagnosis.

How long has the field of music therapy been around?
While music has been used as a therapeutic mean for centuries, music therapy did not emerge as an organized profession until 1950 with the establishment of the National Association for Music Therapy and the American Association for Music Therapy in 1971. When the two associations merged in 1998, the new acronym became AMTA. The American Music Therapy Association. AMTA's mission is "To advance public awareness of the benefits of music therapy and increase access to quality music therapy services in a rapidly changeing world." (AMTA, 1998)

Where do music therapists work?
Music therapists work in hospitals, nursing facilities, schools, treatment centers, hospices, group homes, as well as in private practice.

Can you tell me some of the kinds of goals a music therapist might address?
Music therapists work towards a number of non-musical goals including improving communication skills, decreasing inappropriate behavior, improving academic and motor skills, increasing attention span, strengthening social and leisure skills, pain management and stress reduction. Music therapy can also help individuals on their journey of self-growth and understanding.

Tell me about some of the music therapy interventions that might be used in a typical session.
Music therapists draw from an extensive array of music activities and interventions. For example, the therapist and client might compose songs for the purpose of expression of feelings; one client might learn to play the piano for the purpose of improving fine motor skills, while another client mighttruments to improvise unspoken emotions. Music therapists may also use music and movement activities, singing, lyric discussion or music and imagery (including the Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music) to help the client reach their goals.

What is the Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music?
This technique (known as GIM) was developed by music therapist Dr. Helen Bonny. It is a music-centered therapeutic process to access the human psyche and lead to self-actualization and healing. GIM involves imaging to music in an alternate state of consciousness while sharing the imagery experience with a trained guide/therapist. When used as a therapeutic tool, GIM can lead to a deep uncovering of hidden emotional responses and stimulate creative insights.

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