Benefits of Music Therapy
What are the Benefits of Music Therapy?
In individual and group sessions, individuals will benefit from interventions targeting goal areas including communication, cognition, social/emotional skills, motor/physical skills and sensory regulation.
​
Specifically you can expect to see:
Improved Communication
Music is an effective way to facilitate communication. Through accessing new areas of the brain, music therapy can help individuals initiate language and produce functional communication skills in a fun, new way.
Improved Emotional Expression
Music allows us to express our emotions in a way we cannot do with words alone. Using active music making, clients will learn new strategies to understand their emotions and express them more effectively.
Increased Emotional Regulation
Music can access emotions in a new way. Using guided music listening interventions, clients will learn strategies to reduce anxiety and manage their emotions during times of distress or dysregulation.
Improved Social Skills
Music is an inherently social experience. Through instrument playing, music making, and movement activities, individuals will engage in various levels of play and develop social skills in an organic way.
Sensory Regulation Strategies
A steady, rhythmic beat helps the body integrate sensory information into the brain more effectively, and for a longer duration of time. Pairing sensory movement with musical accompaniment can help develop more effective sensory strategies to keep calm and regulated for a longer period of time.
Improved Cognitive Skills
There are several music therapy techniques to develop cognitive skills in the areas of attention, executive functioning, and academic skills. Music is a fun way to work on these skills that are critical for future educational and social development.
Stronger Motor Movements
Cueing movement with music is an effective way to help initiate, sustain, and inhibit motor movements. For those who struggle with fine or gross motor skills, a music therapist may use specific instrument playing to target motor areas of need.