What is a Music Therapist?
To practice music therapy, one must hold the credential “Music Therapist – Board Certified (MT–BC),” which is granted by the Certification Board for Music Therapists (CBMT) upon passing their national examination.123 To be eligible for the exam, candidates must have completed an accredited college or university program, including a clinical internship in musical therapy. Once certified, therapists are required to participate in continuing education programs. Music therapists practice in a variety of settings such as hospitals, rehabilitative facilities and in private practice.124
What does a music therapist do? First, a therapist will evaluate his or her patient’s emotional well-being, physical health, social and communication abilities, cognitive skills and musical background.124 In addition to using music to improve physical symptoms, music therapy in a medical setting involves treating the whole person – body, mind and soul. This involves the following19:
- Assessment of each patient's unique mind–body connection (how the mind is affecting the body and how the body is affecting the mind).
- Support of coping mechanisms that have been shown to enhance the immune system.
- Treatment of the rhythms, resonances, tones and timbres of the body to promote harmonic balance.
- Addressing physical, emotional, cognitive, developmental, social and spiritual needs of the person.
- Promoting self initiative, thereby enhancing one's sense of empowerment as a proactive force in his/her own healing.
Based on the evaluation and the particular needs of the patient, the therapist will set goals and design sessions that include one or more of the following elements125:
- Clinical music improvisation: Selecting musical instruments that serve to enhance spontaneity; building resilience and fostering creativity that may provide insight into the unconscious internal psychological processes of the individual.
- Music listening: Selecting, listening to and discussing patient selected genres of music that are culturally, spiritually and developmentally preferred.
- Music performance: Playing live or creating a recording to share with significant others.
- Composing: Writing original songs, melodies or instrumental scores with group members or individually with a music therapist.
- Music psychotherapy: Symbolic use and reflection of music including the analysis of lyrics to foster self expression.
- Music visualization: In a relaxed state, using specifically selected recorded or live music to elicit sensations or memories.
- Rehabilitation: Music instruction used to enhance cognitive or educative purposes such as a basic beat to increase attention and maintain a sense of connection with others in the moment.
The above experiences can assist in the achievement of a specific result. For example, playing a musical instrument can help a patient improve gross and fine motor coordination that may be essential for a patient recovering from a stroke.126 Song writing activities can reduce stress and provide tension release for someone who suffered a heart attack.127
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