ABOUT Music Therapy
Music therapy is the intentional use of music and musical elements by a Certified Music Therapist (MTA) to help support your growth towards your clinical goals.
Music therapy is a diverse form of therapy that can address many different needs. Music Therapy combines psychology theories and counselling techniques within musical interventions that encourage growth towards wellness. These interventions may include music listening, improvisation, composition and performance opportunities.
WHO is a Music Therapist?
A Certified Music Therapist (or MTA) is a professional regulated by the Canadian Association of Music Therapists (CAMT) that has:
- completed a bachelor degree or equivalent program,
- completed a 1000-hour internship,
- passed a certification exam, and
- remained in good standing with CAMT by completing at least 45 hours of continuing education every 5 year cycle.
WHAT can Music Therapy address?
Music Therapy can support work towards goal areas such as:
- Managing stress and anxiety
- Emotional expression and regulation
- Family bonding and attachment
- Empowerment
- Strengthening a sense of self
- Relaxation
- Social skills (ex. empathy, perspective-taking, awareness of others)
- Resilience towards environmental stressors
- Communication skills
- Motor skills
HOW does music work as therapy?
Music:
- is nonthreatening and structured for success
- provides a secure space, supporting work on challenging clinical goals,
- is symbolic and allows for self-expression without the need to translate feelings into words
- involves the whole brain, increasing integration and connectivity of separate neural regions
- is a sensory experience and is useful in the treatment of sensory-related challenges, such as trauma, sensory regulation and sensory integration.
The Music Therapy Process
1. The Assessment
The music therapy process begins with an assessment as this helps the music therapist to understand a potential client’s strengths, environmental and relational factors, and possible goals for therapy. This is also an opportunity for clients to assess whether music therapy, and the music therapist, is a good fit for them.
2. The Treatment Plan
After the assessment, the music therapist will create a treatment plan to determine the path of therapy. Goal areas that may be outlined in the treatment plan include: psycho-emotional, social, cognitive, behavioural, communicative, or physical goals. Where possible, clients are highly encouraged to be part of this process.
3. Progress
Progress from each session is monitored to allow the music therapist to identify a client’s progress towards their goals and if any changes need to be made to the treatment plan. Summaries of progress are shared with the client on a quarterly basis.
4. Termination
Termination is when a client is ready to end therapy with their therapist. This may happen if:
- There is no progress and the client may benefit from a different clinician or mode of therapy, or
- The client has met their goals and are ready to practice their goals on their own.
In either case, this decision is always made between the therapist and the client to determine the best course of action for the client.
What will my session look like?
Assessment Sessions
Your assessment sessions are focused on you and your therapist getting to know each other. Expect your therapist to ask you some questions about your experiences and to understand your goals for therapy. You will also be asked about your strengths. Do you have any hobbies? What type of music do you like? What are your preferred creative mediums?
Your therapist will walk you through the process, as described above, and will give you examples of what your sessions moving forward might look like. This is also a time for you to ask any questions you may have, although it is understandable if you do not know what questions to ask at this time.
Regularly Scheduled Sessions
Your music therapy sessions will be tailored to suit your strengths and your needs. You will not be asked to do anything that is not comfortable for you. Some examples of therapeutic interventions that may be used include:
Music therapists may also incorporate other art modalities (i.e., art, dance, movement) as well as talk therapy interventions within the scope of music therapy. None of these interventions require any previous experience or training with music, art or dance.
Click each intervention to learn about the goals that each addresses.