• “Music Therapy is an established health profession in which music is used within a therapeutic relationship to address physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of individuals.” - American Music Therapy Association

  • Someone who has:

    • Completed a music therapy degree from an accredited university

    • Completed a 6-month internship at an approved internship site

    • Passed the national board certification exam through CBMT

    • Maintains their certification through annual continuous education

  • Music Therapists use music to meet non-musical goals. Some examples might be, but are not limited too:

    • Utilizing the properties of music as prompting to increase the expressive verbal communication of an autistic child

    • Utilizing therapeutic interventions, such as song writing or lyric analysis, to increase the coping skills of a teenager that is struggling with depression or anxiety

    • By co-treating with a Physical Therapist to motivate a patient with live music that is rehabilitating after an accident

    • By conducting community music therapy groups to help maintain the mental and physical functioning of individuals with the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s and provide emotional support for their caregivers

    • By co-treating with Child Life Specialists to distract or relax a child during a procedure in a pediatric hospital

  • This therapeutic intervention is used for a variety of reasons:

    • To promote bonding between a caregiver and child or reduce feelings of separation anxiety by listening to a heartbeat recording

    • To provide a healthy coping skill for an individual receiving hospice services and/or their loved ones through the guided, therapeutic process of writing an original heartbeat song

    • To provide comfort during a period of grief (a heartbeat display for a funeral/celebration of life event or to treasure amongst loved ones)

  • Our clients are NOT required to have musical experience prior to starting services. Our music therapist will provide any live or pre-recorded music that is needed during sessions. Clients are encouraged to participate in whatever way is most comfortable/appropriate for them.