What is Music Therapy?

Music therapy is an established health profession using music as the tool to address physical, emotional, cognitive, and social goals within a therapeutic relationship. Music affects body, mind, and spirit. In my own words, I love people, and I love music. I am honored to be a board-certified music therapist; I get to combine two of my greatest passions!

A music therapy session is unique. It is not a “one size fits all” experience. I work with a variety of populations, and while each session is different, every session always focuses on the relationship with my client(s), using music to achieve our established goals. Music therapy is not only helpful to my client(s), but it also benefits family members and/or caregivers. Please reach out; I’d love to talk more about music therapy with you!

seniors in memory Care

Music is a form of sensory stimulation, which provokes responses due to the familiarity, predictability, and feelings of security associated with it. Music therapy provides opportunities for memory recall, which provides for reminiscence and satisfaction with life. It also contributes to positive changes in mood and emotional states, awareness of self and environment, and reduced anxiety and stress.

Children in Hospitals

Benefits of music therapy in the Children’s Hospital setting include: outlet for emotional expression and support; anxiety, stress and pain management; family support and bonding; refocus and relax during procedures and routine care; normalization of hospital environment; cognitive, neurologic, social and emotional development. Examples of music therapy techniques in this setting include therapeutic lessons with instruments; songwriting and recording; live music for guided relaxation and meditation; lyric analysis through listening to and discussing music; music improvisation and instrument play.

seniors in hospice care

Music is used with hospice patients to address goals which include pain management, reduced anxiety, life review/reminiscence, life closure, interpersonal interaction, social isolation, increase creative and emotional expression. Music therapists are able to use the medium of music to create legacy projects with patients that are valuable to family and friends.

Students Coping with Trauma

The directed use of music and music therapy is highly effective in developing coping strategies, including understanding and expressing feelings of anxiety and helplessness, supporting feelings of self-confidence and security, and providing a safe or neutral environment for relaxation. Research results and clinical experiences attest to the viability of music therapy even in situations outside of traditional therapeutic settings. Music is a form of sensory stimulation, which provokes responses due to the familiarity, predictability, and feelings of security associated with it.

Veterans recovering from PTSD

During World War II, music was used most often to boost the morale of returning veterans. Music therapy services were also used in medical applications in physical and emotional rehabilitation. Music therapy provides a safe medium for those who are wounded, ill, or injured to nonverbally express their inner thoughts and feelings, and support verbal processing of thoughts and reactions. Through engagement in music that accommodates their cultural differences and musical preferences, service members are motivated to pursue varying levels of self-disclosure, a process essential to recovery.

Children with special needs

A variety of special needs can be positively impacted by music therapy. People with autism spectrum disorder have some degree of difficulty with cognitive, social, and verbal function. Because music can stimulate both hemispheres of the brain simultaneously, a music therapist can use it to improve cognitive activity and self-awareness at the same time. Even the lyrics of songs can help people with autism because they can provide valuable keys for social interactions. People with cerebral palsy can receive important cognitive benefits from music that can lead to improvements in dexterity, fine and gross motor function, concentration, alertness, and the reduction of muscle tension. Individuals who struggle with ADD or ADHD can benefit from music in important ways as well, particularly in the realm of impulse control.