What is Music Therapy?
"Music Therapy is the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional who has completed an approved music therapy program." --American Music Therapy Association
Although a client may learn to sing, read or play music within a music therapy session, the goals of the session are clinical and based on the individual needs of the clients. Based on information gathered by our Music Therapist during the first few sessions as well as from the client's medical diagnoses and or personalized goal plans (such as an IEP), Music Therapists create individualized goals that may address a wide variety of clinical needs.
What does a session look like?
With 1200 hours of clinical experience required, board certified therapists are trained to use various musical "interventions" to discover the best way for music to engage your unique child. They may use guitars, song, keyboards, drums and/or other music instruments to make music with your child in a way that builds on their own innate love for music to reach individualized goals. NOTE: Our music therapy approach is almost opposite the ABA approach which addresses behavior externally through form and structure. Music therapy, on the other hand, allows the child to express himself freely because it stems from his internal love for music (and often quite apart from the pressure of form and structure.)
What about Group classes? About Music Adventures
Music Adventures Groups are kids' music group classes that use the relevant elements of EMA and consist of a few kids within a reasonable age range. Music Adventures Groups focus on playing different instruments and engaging in music as a group and can sometimes create organic opportunities for communication, joint attention, and peer socialization.
When students are well regulated and need less support, we are able to provide age-appropriate group class opportunities that organically help develop social engagement skills. Some clients are offered the option to participate in Early Music Awareness (EMA) classes, and others who are less regulated or need more support may be asked to meet at least once with a music therapist who can help determine the best way to group them with other children that share similar support needs.
Who can benefit from Music Therapy?
Music has long been known to be a source of healing to mankind. Now, great musicians with compassionate hearts are being extensively trained to use multiple tools (called "interventions") to bring assistance to those of all ages, abilities and disabilities.
Since Music therapy can address, cognitive, social, emotional, speech, motor, memory and behavioural issues, almost anyone with needs in these areas can be served effectively by music therapy.
At The Music Place, the greatest percentage of our clients are in the population of those diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), but we have also served those with other diagnoses such as traumatic brain injury, Williams syndrome, Down's syndrome, Alzheimer's, schitzophrenia, depresson, cerebral palsy, agoriphobia and more. Our team has a wide range of training and work together to share ideas to provide the most effective care possible.