Music Therapy
If you are seeking a powerful alternative therapy, then music could be the answer! Music therapy involves using your responses and connections to music to encourage positive changes in mood and overall wellbeing!
Embracing the Power of Music Therapy to Enhance Your Wellbeing
Music is one of the few things in life that has the power to move us emotionally. A particular piece of music can bring back memories, soothe our souls and lift our spirits – enabling us to express emotions when words fail us. It is this power that music therapy harnesses, using the various musical components to provide a way of connecting within a therapeutic setting.
The theory behind music therapy is to tap into that shared experience in a way that relates to you on a personal level. Music therapy can benefit a wide range of people, including those experiencing emotional difficulties and those with physical limitations. Young children can benefit from improved communication, and older people can regain their self-esteem.
What is Music Therapy?
Music therapy is a form of creative therapy that involves listening to and/or playing music. Depending on the specific needs of the participants, music therapy can foster communication skills, self-awareness and self-esteem. By combining the communicative and social nature of music it aims to create the perfect conditions for positive changes in behaviour.
Typically, the music therapist will conduct sessions using a range of instruments and/or their voice to provoke interaction and response from the participants. The nature of this relaxed and safe environment is ideal for encouraging emotional release and learning from those involved.
Do I need musical experience?
here is no requirement for any previous musical experience and you do not need to know how to play an instrument in order to benefit from music therapy. The therapist may encourage participation, they may provide instruments like drums or tambourines, or indeed you can simply sit back and enjoy listening to the music.
Music therapy is not about teaching you how to play or read music, it is all about the emotional connection with music that you have. That being said, you may find that you naturally pick up a desire to learn to play an instrument or explore music beyond attending therapy.
Donna Marie Thomas
Hello, my name is Donna, I am a qualified counsellor, psychotherapist, hypnotherapist and Registered Member of BACP based in Pontefract, West Yorkshire.
I have a passion for helping people to enjoy a happier, more fulfilling life via a person centred approach to therapy tailored to meet each individuals specific needs.
Get in touch to find out more or book an appointment with me today.
Music Therapy Techniques
Music therapists will use a range of techniques depending on the needs of the participants. The following techniques are some of those most commonly used, however, this list is not exhaustive and other techniques can be applied:
- Singing – your music therapist may invite you to sing along while they play a song
- Playing instruments – this can help you refine motor skills and coordination
- Rhythmic-based activities – imitating a rhythm, or making up your own, can help to develop coordination and range of movement
- Improvisation – this allows you to express yourself creatively, musical improvisation can help when words fail you
- Composing/songwriting – writing a song about your experiences can be easier than talking about it
- Listening – just listening to music can have therapeutic properties
The goal of music therapy is to help you express deep emotions, to talk openly about how music makes you feel and the personal connections you have with certain songs and types of music.
Who Can Benefit from Music Therapy?
Thanks to the versatile nature of music therapy it has the potential to help a wide range of different social groups. Almost anyone can benefit from music as a form of therapy, however, it is thought to be particularly beneficial for the following:
- Children and families
- Those with learning difficulties
- Those with a neuro-disability
- Those on the autistic spectrum
- Those suffering with dementia
- Those with anxiety and depression
- Those with schizophrenia
It should be noted that music therapy often works best for those with mental health issues when used in conjunction with other treatments including talk therapy and medication.
What are the Benefits of Music Therapy?
There are extra benefits to listening or creating music that talking therapies may not be able to offer.
For instance, learning and practicing a piece of music can improve memory skills, coordination, reading, comprehension, and math skills.
Although self-expression is a part of talking therapy, music therapy allows people to express themselves in a creative way, which can be a more enjoyable way of exploring difficult emotions.
Lyric analysis allows a person to find themes and meanings within lyrics and offer alternative lyrics that apply to their life and experiences, which can help them find the words that represent how they are feeling.
Some of the benefits of music therapy include:
- Improved self-esteem
- Decreased anxiety
- Increased motivation
- Successful and safe emotional release
- Increased verbalisation
- Stronger connections with other people
Aside from helping with mental health conditions, music therapy also has numerous other benefits, such as providing a creative outlet, expanding knowledge and cultural awareness, and improving cognitive skills.
How Innerworth Counselling Can Help
Music therapy can provide you with a creative and accessible way of expressing your feelings and processing your experiences in a safe, compassionate and confidential space.
Take the First Step Now
I offer private music therapy, and take a person-centred approach, meaning that I’m non-judgemental, see clients as equals, and collaborate on your healing journey together.
If you feel that music therapy could be beneficial for your problems please book an initial consultation. You don’t have to prepare for this, just come as you are and we can look into how I might be able to help.
Additional Information
Here are some links that you may find helpful:
NHS
www.nhs.uk
Mind
The team at Mind provide information on a range of mental health problems.
www.mind.org.uk
Contact me today to book a confidential consulation
What My Clients Say
Jason Osborne
I shall be forever bewildered by the effectiveness of hypnotherapy. I had always remained sceptical until my very last session, then the “weight” that suddenly lifted was both physical and emotional and continues to benefit both myself and those around me three years on – thank you Donna.
Jason Osborne
Abigail Johnson
I’ve finally found a solution to my dependency on food. Your weight-loss therapy sessions have seriously transformed my life. Honestly, I could cry, I am so happy and feel like a totally new person, inside and out! Truly amazing Donna.
Abigail Johnson
Charlotte Dickinson
I went to see Donna because my anxiety and depression had spiralled out of control. I now have skills and techniques that I can use for the rest of my life to help me cope with any challenges. Thoroughly recommend psychotherapy from Innerworth Counselling. Donna is warm, professional and clearly passionate about what she does.