8/2/2019 Music Therapy is an Allied Health Profession and One of the Expressive Therapies

1/3

MUSIC THERAPY

Music therapy is an allied health profession and one of the expressive therapies,

consisting of an interpersonal process in which a trained music therapist uses music and all of its

facetsphysical, emotional, mental, social, aesthetic, and spiritualto help clients to improve or

maintain their healthMusic therapists primarily help clients improve their health across various

domains by using music experiences (e.g., singing, songwriting, listening to and discussing music,

moving to music) to achieve treatment goals and objectives.

It is considered both an art and a science, with a qualitative and quantitative research

literature base incorporating areas such as clinicaltherapy,biomusicology,musical acoustics,music

theory, psychoacoustics, embodied music cognition, aesthetics of music, and comparative

musicology. Referrals to music therapy services may be made by other health care professionals

such as physicians, psychologists, physical therapists, and occupational therapists. Clients can also

choose to pursue music therapy services without a referrMusic therapists are found in nearly every

area of the helping professions. Some commonly found practices include developmental work

(communication,motor skills, etc.) with individuals with special needs,songwritingand listening in

reminiscence/orientation work with the elderly, processing and relaxation work, and rhythmicentrainmentfor physical rehabilitation in stroke victims. Music therapy is also used in some medical

hospitals, cancer centers, schools, alcohol and drug recovery programs, psychiatric hospitals, and

correctional facilities. (i.e., self-referral).

HISTORY OF MUSIC THERAPY

Music has been used as a healing force for centuries.]Music therapy goes back to

biblical times, when David played the harp to rid King Saul of a bad spirit. As early as 400 B.C.,

Hippocrates, Greek father of medicine, played music for his mental patients. Aristotle described

music as a force that purified the emotions. In the thirteenth century, Arab hospitals contained

music-rooms for the benefit of the patients. In the United States, Native American medicine men

often employed chants and dances as a method of healing patients. Music therapy as we know it

began in the aftermath of World Wars I and II. Musicians would travel to hospitals, particularly in the

United Kingdom, and play music for soldiers suffering from war-related emotional and physical

trauma.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allied_health_professionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allied_health_professionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allied_health_professionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expressive_therapyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expressive_therapyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expressive_therapyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Therapyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Therapyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Therapyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biomusicologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biomusicologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biomusicologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musical_acousticshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musical_acousticshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musical_acousticshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_theoryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_theoryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_theoryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_theoryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychoacousticshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychoacousticshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Embodied_music_cognitionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Embodied_music_cognitionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aesthetics_of_musichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aesthetics_of_musichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparative_musicologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparative_musicologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparative_musicologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motor_skillshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motor_skillshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motor_skillshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Songwritinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Songwritinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Songwritinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brainwave_synchronizationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brainwave_synchronizationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brainwave_synchronizationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Songwritinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motor_skillshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparative_musicologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparative_musicologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aesthetics_of_musichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Embodied_music_cognitionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychoacousticshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_theoryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_theoryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musical_acousticshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biomusicologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Therapyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expressive_therapyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allied_health_profession

8/2/2019 Music Therapy is an Allied Health Profession and One of the Expressive Therapies

2/3

Adolescents with mood disorders

Music and mood disorders

According to the Mayo Health Clinic, out of every 100,000 adolescents,

two to three thousand will have mood disorders, out of which 8-10 will commit suicide. Two

prevalent mood disorders in the adolescent population areclinical depressionandbipolar

disorder.

On average American adolescents listens to approximately 4.5 hours

of music per day and are responsible for 70% of pop music sales. Now with the invention of

new technologies, such as the iPod and digital downloads, access to music has become aseasy. As children make the transition into adolescence they become less likely to sit and

watch TV, an activity associated with family, and spend more of their leisure time listening to

music, an activity associated with friends

Adolescents have identified many benefits of listening to music,

including emotional, social, and daily life benefits, along with the formation of ones own

identity. Music can provide a sense of independence and individuality, which in turn

contributes to ones own self discovery and sense of identity. Music also offers adolescents

with relatable messages that allow him/her to take comfort in knowing that others feel the

same way they do. It can also serve as a creative outlet to release or control emotions and find

ways of coping with difficult situations. Music can improve one's mood by reducing stressand lowering anxiety levels, which can help counteract or prevent depression Music

education programs provide adolescents with a safe place to express themselves and learn life

skills such as self-discipline, diligence, and patience. These school programs also promote

confidence and self esteem. EthnomusicologistAlan Merriam(1964) once stated that music

is a universal behavior; it is something that everyone can identify with. Among

adolescents, music is a unifying force, bringing people of different backgrounds, age groups,

and social groups together

Treatment techniques

There are many different music therapy techniques used withadolescents. The music therapy model is based on various theoretical backgrounds such as

psychodynamic, behavioral, and humanistic approaches. Techniques can be classified as

active vs. receptive and improvisational vs. structured. The most common techniques in use

with adolescents are musicalimprovisation, the use of precomposed songs or music,

receptive listening to music, verbal discussion about the music, and the use of creative media

outlets incorporated into the music therapy. Research also showed that improvisation and the

use of other media were the two techniques most often used by the music therapists. The

overall research showed that adolescents in music therapy change more when discipline-

specific music therapy techniques, such as improvisation and verbal reflection of the music,

are used. The results of this study showed that music therapists should put careful thought

and deliberation into their choice of technique with each individual client. In the end, those

choices can effect the positive or negative outcomes of music therapy treatment.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clinical_depressionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clinical_depressionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clinical_depressionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bipolar_disorderhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bipolar_disorderhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bipolar_disorderhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bipolar_disorderhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Merriamhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Merriamhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Merriamhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Improvisationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Improvisationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Improvisationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Improvisationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Merriamhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bipolar_disorderhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bipolar_disorderhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clinical_depression

8/2/2019 Music Therapy is an Allied Health Profession and One of the Expressive Therapies

3/3

To those unfamiliar with music therapy the idea may seem a little

strange, but music therapy has been found to be as effective as traditional forms of therapy. In

a meta-analysis of the effects of music therapy for children and adolescents with

psychopathology, Gold, Voracek, and Wigram (2004) looked at 10 previous studies

conducted between 1970 and 1998 to examine the overall efficacy of music therapy on

children and adolescents with psychopathology, which can be broken down into three distinctcategories: behavioral disorders, emotional disorders, and developmental disorders. The

results of the meta-analysis found that music therapy with these clients has a highly

significant, medium to large effect on clinically relevant outcomes. More specifically, music

therapy was most effective on subjects with mixed diagnoses. Another important result was

that the effects of music therapy are more enduring when more sessions are provided.

Music therapists work with these adolescents on increasing emotional

and cognitive stability, identifying contributing factors of current distress, and initiating

changes to alleviate that distress. Music therapy may also focus on improving quality of life

and building self-esteem, a sense self-worth, and confidence. Improvements in these areas

can be measured by a number of tests, including qualitative questionnaires like BecksDepression Inventory, State and Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Relationship Change Scale.

Effects of music therapy can also be observed in the patients demeanor, body language, and

changes in awareness ofmood.

Group meetings and one-one sessions are two main methods for music

therapy. Group music therapy can include group discussions concerning moods and emotions

in/to music, songwriting, and musical improvisation. Groups emphasizing mood recognition

and awareness, group cohesion, and improvement in self-esteem can be effective in working

with adolescents.Group therapy, however, is not always the best choice for the client.

Ongoing one-on-one music therapy has also been shown to be effective. One-on-one music

therapy provides a non-invasive, non-judgmental environment, encouraging clients to show

capacities that may be hidden in group situations.

Though more research needs to be done of the effect of music therapy

on adolescents with mood disorders, most research has been finding positive effects.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mood_%28psychology%29http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mood_%28psychology%29http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mood_%28psychology%29http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Group_therapyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Group_therapyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Group_therapyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Group_therapyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mood_%28psychology%29