What You Should Know About Music Therapy

Everyone loves music, it provides relief for different situations and it's only normal for it to be a form of therapy. Music therapy is simply using music to treat the emotional, cognitive, physical, and social needs of a person or group of people.

People of different ages and medical conditions whether they are healthy, tone-deaf, or virtuoso can use music therapy. It uses various activities to treat patients from listening to melodies to playing an instrument, writing songs, dancing, singing, guided imagery, discussing music and drumming.

It has been gaining popularity in recent times because of its therapeutic approach of using music to improve one's well-being. Here are some things you should know about music therapy.

1.   It's a Legitimate Profession

If you have never heard about music therapy, you're not alone. It has been an actual accredited profession since the 50s, just that most people are not aware of this. When people hear of therapists they think of traditional psychologists, physical therapists, speech therapists, or career therapists. The truth is music therapists also need to be on that included alongside those types of therapists.

Like other therapies, they document progress, have objectives that aren't related to music, are well-grounded in psychology, and are licensed to practice. Unlike them, music therapists are also well educated in music accredited. It can be applied together with other therapies to produce better and effective results.  

2.   Music Therapy Is Effective

Anyone of any age and condition can get treated by music therapy because of how easily it can be personalized. It's quite versatile and provides several benefits for people having different musical experiences including mental and physical health challenges.

Considering the fact that almost everyone loves some form of music as it is fun and can easily motivate us, music therapy has the ability to influence us emotionally, physically, and spiritually. It can serve as headaches, depression, feelings of low self-esteem, and PTSD treatment among other things. The interesting part is that it can affect all of these areas simultaneously. 

3.   It's Not Restricted To Musicians

You don't have to be a musician to get attended to by a music therapist. The therapists try as much as possible to make sessions non-musician proof so you can have a successful musical experience even you know nothing about music or how to play a note.

Very many people consider themselves as not being musicians but that's really not true because everyone has a rhythm in the way we live, breathe, and even in our physical body. From the heart to our cells, we are all made up of rhythms that are working together. The therapist works closely with you to create music so you can be part of a powerful experience whether you've had any musical training or not.

Music therapy is a complete form of therapy as it touches the mind, brain, body, down to behaviors. Music can serve as a distraction for your mind; it can slow your body's rhythm down, alter your mood and also get to influence your behavior.