What is Music Therapy?
Music therapy is an evidence-based practice that uses musical activities to help individuals achieve therapeutic goals. Music therapy can be used with a wide variety of populations, and can help accomplish a wide variety of outcomes.
According to the American Music Therapy Association:
- Music therapy is an established health profession in which music is used within a therapeutic relationship to address physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of individuals
- After assessing the strengths and needs of each client, the qualified music therapist provides the indicated treatment including creating, singing, moving to, and/or listening to music
- Through musical involvement in the therapeutic context, clients’ abilities are strengthened and transferred to other areas of their lives
- Music therapy also provides avenues for communication that can be helpful to those who find it difficult to express themselves in words
- Research in music therapy supports its effectiveness in many areas such as: overall physical rehabilitation and facilitating movement, increasing peoples motivation to become engaged in their treatment, providing emotional support for clients and their families, and providing an outlet for expression of feelings.
Who Are Music Therapists?
A Music therapist is someone who completes one of the approved bachelors, equivalency, or Master’s Degree music therapy curricula (including an internship). After completion of curricula, including practical music therapy experience requirements, the candidate is then eligible to sit for the national certification examination offered by the Certification Board for Music Therapists. Music therapists who successfully complete the independently administered examination hold the credential Music Therapist, Board Certified (MT-BC).