Will music being used as therapy?

Music is a universal language that has been used for centuries to express emotions, create connections, and bring people together. Music therapy is the use of music by a trained therapist to address physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of individuals. It is a well-established allied health profession that uses music to help people of all ages to improve their overall health and well-being. In this blog, we will discuss what music therapy is, how it works, and its benefits.

What is Music Therapy?

Music therapy is the use of music as an intervention to improve health and wellbeing. A certified music therapist assesses an individual's needs, creates a personalized treatment plan, and provides the appropriate music therapy services to achieve specific goals. Music therapy can be used to treat a wide range of conditions, including mental health disorders, developmental disabilities, chronic pain, and neurological disorders.

How Does Music Therapy Work?

Music therapy is an evidence-based practice that is based on the premise that music has therapeutic qualities. Music can impact a person's physical, emotional, cognitive, and social functioning in various ways. The therapist uses music to achieve specific goals based on the client's needs.

Physical Benefits

Music can help reduce pain, improve physical coordination, and promote relaxation. For example, music can be used to help individuals with Parkinson's disease improve their gait and balance.

Emotional Benefits

Music can be used to promote emotional well-being by reducing stress, anxiety, and depression. Music therapy can help individuals express their emotions, develop coping strategies, and improve their mood.

Cognitive Benefits

Music can improve cognitive functioning, including memory, attention, and problem-solving skills. Music can be used to stimulate the brain and promote cognitive growth in individuals with neurological disorders such as dementia and traumatic brain injury.

Social Benefits

Music can be used to improve social skills, including communication, cooperation, and teamwork. Music therapy can be particularly beneficial for children with developmental disabilities such as autism spectrum disorder.

Benefits of Music Therapy

Promotes relaxation and reduces stress: Music therapy can help individuals relax, reduce stress and anxiety, and improve their overall mood.

Improves communication and social interaction: Music therapy can help individuals improve their communication and social interaction skills by encouraging self-expression and cooperation.

Enhances cognitive function: Music therapy can improve cognitive function in individuals with neurological disorders by stimulating the brain and promoting cognitive growth.

Boosts physical functioning: Music therapy can help improve physical coordination, balance, and reduce pain.

Encourages emotional expression: Music therapy can help individuals express their emotions and develop healthy coping strategies.

One real example of music therapy involves using music to help individuals with Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's disease is a neurological disorder that causes progressive memory loss and cognitive decline. Music therapy has been found to be particularly effective in improving cognitive function and reducing behavioral symptoms in individuals with Alzheimer's disease.

In a study conducted by researchers at Brown University, individuals with Alzheimer's disease were exposed to familiar music from their past during a music therapy session. The music therapy sessions were conducted over a period of six weeks, and participants were assessed for changes in their cognitive and behavioral symptoms.

The study found that the music therapy sessions led to significant improvements in cognitive function, including increased attention, memory, and orientation. Additionally, the music therapy sessions led to a decrease in behavioral symptoms, including agitation, aggression, and anxiety.

These findings suggest that music therapy can be an effective intervention for individuals with Alzheimer's disease. The use of familiar music from an individual's past can help stimulate memories and promote cognitive function. Music therapy can also provide a calming and comforting environment for individuals with Alzheimer's disease, reducing stress and anxiety.

Conclusion

Music therapy is a valuable intervention that has been used for centuries to improve health and well-being. Music therapy can be used to address a wide range of conditions, including mental health disorders, developmental disabilities, chronic pain, and neurological disorders. Music therapy has many benefits, including promoting relaxation, improving communication and social interaction, enhancing cognitive function, boosting physical functioning, and encouraging emotional expression. Music therapy is an evidence-based practice that is conducted by a certified music therapist and can be an effective way to improve overall health and well-being.