Music Therapy
Music therapy is an art-based allied health profession where Registered Music Therapists use music-based activities to actively support people with their health, functioning and wellbeing. Music therapy uses music and the relationship formed through musical experiences to support individuals and their families.
Music therapy can support mental, intellectual, physical, emotional or social aspects of wellbeing, by using music within a therapeutic relationship to achieve meaningful goals.
Music therapists also use a variety of non-musical therapeutic techniques,
and work with a range of other therapists to collectively support the individual to reach their goals.
Music therapy can be used support clients in the following areas:
Mental health
- Anxiety and stress
- Improve confidence
Behavioural management
- Emotional and mood regulation
- Manage anger and frustration
- Manage challenging behaviour
Communication
- Encourage verbal & non-verbal communication
- Improve speech function
Social skills
- Encourage positive social behaviours
- Improve social communication skills
Body movement and motor skills
- Improve gross and fine motor skills
- Improve gait control
- Help regulate heart rate
- Breath control
- Help improve sleep
Various music-based activities can be used to in a Music Therapy session, which are tailored each session to support the needs of the individual:
- Singing and/or playing instruments
- Drumming
- Improvised music-making
- Song writing and composing
- Movement-based musical activities
- Active music listening - live and pre-recorded
- Creating purpose-based playlists
- Therapeutic instrument learning
Music Therapy, like all Allied Health practices, comes out of the same part of your child’s NDIS plan as Speech Pathology and Occupational Therapy. You can find more about how Music Therapy can help your child.