Overview
What is Music Therapy?
Music therapy is the use of music to accomplish non-musical goals. These goals vary from patient to patient but are all treated with some form of music. The treatment is provided by a healthcare professional with the title, music therapist. They must have at least a bachelor’s degree in music therapy and must pass a board exam to legally practice. This gives the therapist the title “MT-BC” or Music Therapist, Board-Certified.
What can music therapy treat?
Music therapy treats a wide array of conditions through music and can be done independently or in collaboration with another type of therapy. Music therapy is most commonly used to treat people with:
Learning disabilities
Developmental delays
Autism spectrum disorder
Stroke
Dementia
Parkinson’s disease
Traumatic brain injury
Anxiety disorders
Depression
Social isolation
What symptoms can music therapy address?
Music therapy can be used to address many areas, including, but not limited to:
Impaired/delayed cognitive function
Speech
Fine and gross motor skills
Physical movement
Emotional expression
Social isolation
Short working memory
Learning deficits
Stress
Communication
Do I need to have musical abilities to be eligible?
No, musical talents or abilities aren’t necessary to participate. Music therapy is available for individuals of all abilities, regardless of their musical knowledge. Sessions plans are uniquely created to accommodate to each client’s musical ability.
Procedures
Assessment
An assessment is the first step towards music therapy treatment. The music therapist will assess the prospective client’s strengths and needs. This is done by discussing the client’s background such as:
Current diagnosis
Music preferences
Age
Musical background, if any
Developmental level
Cognitive skills
Social skills
Motor skills
History
Possible triggers
Physical health
Emotional well-being
Mental health state
Communication skills
Other treatments client is receiving
This questionnaire and discussion with the client/caregiver of the client is done to give the music therapist a better understanding of possible goals and needs the client will have. The assessment procedure is a collaborative process between the therapist, client, and caregiver (if needed) to ensure the best possible treatment.
Goals
Upon completion of the assessment, the music therapist will determine whether or not the client qualifies for music therapy at this facility. If the client qualifies, the therapist will begin to create goals for the client. This is done by observing what needs were present in the assessment, while also taking client/caregiver’s requests into account. Such as with the assessment, the beginning of the goal-setting process is a collaborative one to ensure the client receives the best care possible. Broad goals are set yearly, with more specific goals set for each quarter. A few examples of possible long term goals are:
Client will increase physical movement through percussive instrument playing.
Client will develop healthy coping skills through songwriting.
Client will improve fine motor skills through piano playing.
Client will increase socialization through music lessons.
Treatment Plan
Once the long term goals are set and agreed upon by the therapist and client/caretaker, the therapist will begin to create a unique treatment plan for the new client. This consists of:
Long term goals
Yearly goals
Quarterly goals
Specific objectives set for each goal per quarter.
Weekly treatment plans for each session with specific interventions for each objective.
Sessions
Each session will look unique from client to client, depending on their unique needs. Some examples of interventions done in session are:
Adaptive instrument instruction
Percussive improvisation
Songwriting
Therapeutic singing
Music relaxation
Lyric analysis
Music therapy sessions are typically done weekly and in 30 minute to 1 hour sessions but can be modified to better suit each client’s needs and abilities. Once treatment begins, you will receive a weekly report summarizing what was done in each session. Every 3 months, you will receive a quarterly report updating the client’s progress toward their goals to determine whether these goals have been met, need to be adjusted, or need to be continued. Similarly, each year you will receive a yearly summary report to determine whether or not the client has met their goals, whether their goals are still appropriate for their needs, or whether they have fulfilled all possible goals & no longer require music therapy.
Who is Anthem currently accepting for music therapy?
We would love to accept as many clients as possible but to offer the best care possible, we are currently focusing on offering adaptive lessons and music therapy sessions addressing:
Cognitive deficits
Motor skills
Emotional expression
Socialization
If you are unsure whether you or a loved one qualifies under this criteria, give us a call and we’d love to clarify any questions or doubts you may have. We currently have one music therapist on the team to treat future clients. As the program continues, we hope to expand and accept a wider population of clients in the near future.
FAQ’s
What if I just want my child to learn a new instrument?
Anthem already offers private lessons for people of all ages. However, if you or your loved one has a condition that affects their physical or cognitive skills, our music therapist can offer adaptive lessons for the individual. In this case, the goals set for the client would be musical.
My child is currently receiving physical and speech therapy. Will music therapy interfere with that?
No, music therapy can be done regardless of other current treatments. If requested, it can be done to address goals given in other therapies or to address new goals determined upon assessment.
How long are music therapy sessions?
They can range anywhere between 15-90 minutes, with most sessions lasting 30-60 minutes. The duration of each client’s session is determined upon completion of the assessment.
How do I know music therapy is a credible field?
Music therapy is an evidence-based field with decades of research behind it. Most prominently, you can find research in two of the American Music Therapy Association’s publications, Journal of Music Therapy and Music Therapy Perspectives.
I have a million questions and want to speak to a therapist, myself.
Give us a call! We’d love to get you in contact with our therapist to answer any questions you may have.
Will my insurance be able to reimburse me for the cost of sessions?
- You are more than welcome to seek insurance reimbursement. Whether or not you receive it will depend on your provider, but we are more than happy to provide you with the documentation required to do so.