Palliative care is an area in which music therapists can offer a great deal, especially those who are also Registered Psychotherapists (RP’s). In many hospices and palliative departments, music therapists are on staff. [Read more…] about Music Therapy Through Life: Palliative Care and End of Life
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Music Therapy Through Life: Oncology
Music therapists are often on staff in hospital oncology (cancer care) programs, and for good reason.
Music therapy can help with pain
Research has shown that music therapy can help with a host of symptoms suffered by cancer patients, including pain. This includes pain related to the disease itself, as well as procedural pain.
Music therapy can reduce anxiety
Music Therapy Through Life: Older Adults and Dementia
If there is one place where music therapy is commonly found, it is in long-term care facilities. Music therapy is very useful to older adults simply because it can be used for so many different goals. Goal areas might include:
- social interaction
- maintaining physical abilities
- cognitive stimulation and maintenance
- memory recall
- quality of life
- creating a legacy to leave for loved ones (and to begin the process towards life and relationship resolution)
[Read more…] about Music Therapy Through Life: Older Adults and Dementia
Music Therapy Through Life: Mental Health
As with children and adolescents, many adults struggle with issues of mental health. These concerns vary widely and can include anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, postpartum depression and mood disorders, PTSD (and other trauma related disorders), substance abuse, and eating disorders among others.
Some music therapists are able to provide music psychotherapy which can help individuals who are looking for assistance with mental health. Music psychotherapy can also help when individuals are seeking help with problems with relationships. Essentially, any concern where you might consider going to a “talk therapist” can also be addressed by a qualified music psychotherapist. Music psychotherapists may use both music and verbal components in their sessions, depending on their way of working and the needs of the client. [Read more…] about Music Therapy Through Life: Mental Health
Music Therapy Through Life: Rehabilitation
Music therapy is helpful in rehabilitation for one of the same reasons that it is so useful in early childhood: brain plasticity. Brain plasticity is the brain’s ability to rewire itself. I wrote about this extensively, in the first article in this series, so read that now if you would like a bit more information.
The use of music therapy in rehabilitation has gotten the attention of a variety of professions (such as the medical community), as well as the media, and it’s easy to see why. Rehabilitation is an area of music therapy where results can be dramatic. [Read more…] about Music Therapy Through Life: Rehabilitation
Music Therapy Through Life: Mid to Late Childhood and Adolescence
Parents who seek music therapy for their children in this age range may be looking to address similar issues to those for younger children: common diagnoses include Cerebral Palsy, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention Deficit Hyper Activity Disorder (ADHD), Genetic Disorders (such as Down Syndrome), Developmental Delays, and Speech Disorders and Delays.
In addition, older children who are now in school may be discovering new challenges such as learning disorders or bullying, and children and adolescents may be struggling with mental health concerns such as depression or anxiety. Music therapy can also help children who are going through a difficult time, such as a death in the family, parental divorce, or a life-changing illness. [Read more…] about Music Therapy Through Life: Mid to Late Childhood and Adolescence