The Healing Power of Music Therapy

Music therapy is a form of assistance that is given to people to aid in the improvement of their health, and has proven to help clients in regard to motor skills, behavioral skills and even cognitive functions. Working as a music therapist is also a career that is becoming more popular, as it combines the passion for music with the ability to help others. Not only can music bring joy and celebration into people’s lives, heal a broken heart or bring a message across to the world, but it can heal in ways never before thought possible.

When music therapy is applied correctly, it can assist clients in a variety of ways, such as physical rehabilitation, stress management, memory enhancement, improved communication and promotion of the client’s wellbeing. Clients who make use of music therapy include those with developmental disabilities, handicapped patients, suffering from a psychiatric disorder, people with impaired sensory abilities and the aged. Most music therapists work in hospitals, in private practices, prisons, universities, schools and local community centers. Depending on the disability or problem areas of clients, music can be used in different ways to address the disorder, which includes helping clients with song writing, playing an instrument, listening to music, dancing and moving to the rhythm of music, as well as singing. Therapists, psychologists and physicians often refer their patients to a music therapist, and programs are worked out for them, so there are able to achieve maintainable goals.

With elderly patients, listening to music and performing movement to the beat or melody assists with relaxation, as well as physical rehabilitation; while listening to music and writing songs helps special needs clients. Music therapy can therefore be used in different ways to help clients and their specific needs. Children are also able to benefit from music therapy, especially those who struggle with concentration, behavioral problems and communication development. Established and developed from a neuroscience called Neurological Music Therapy, music therapy is able to stimulate the parts of the brain that control the specific functions that clients are struggling with and is therefore a scientific method of therapy that can aid both young and old.