Ottawa Music Therapy

Dementia is a group of disorders that affect the ability to think, remember, and reason. It is one of the most common health problems affecting seniors and can have both physical and psychological impacts on someone suffering from it. While there’s currently no cure, treatments have been found to limit or even reverse the changes caused by dementia.

One such treatment is music therapy, which has been found to have a positive effect on the quality of life of those with dementia. Music therapy has become an increasingly popular treatment, as it is non-invasive, low-cost and can be tailored to each individual’s needs and preferences.

Studies have shown that music therapy can help improve communication and social interaction among those with dementia, while also providing relief from stress, anxiety, and depression. It can also help to create an emotionally safe and supportive environment, which can help those with dementia feel more secure and bolstered in their daily activities.

Music therapy can be used in a variety of different settings, including classes, one-on-one sessions, or even group activities. It can be tailored to suit the patient’s age and interests, with different activities such as singing, playing musical instruments, or even making music-based crafts. These activities can be used to help patients remember easier, build social relationships, express their emotions, and even improve their motor skills.

Music therapy can also help individuals with dementia recall memories from earlier in their lives and can help to create meaningful and personal connections between patients and their carers. This can provide them with valuable mental stimulation and brings a sense of joy and celebration to their day-to-day lives.

Not only this, but there is evidence to suggest that music therapy can improve neurological function. Certain kinds of musical interactions have been found to reduce levels of agitation and depression, while also helping to promote quality sleep. This is particularly beneficial as those with dementia are especially vulnerable to stress and anxiety, as well as sleeping disorders.

Overall, there is a lot of evidence to suggest that music therapy can improve the quality of life for individuals with dementia. Whether used in one-on-one sessions or with a small group, music therapy can be a powerful tool in helping those with dementia to stay involved and engaged in their daily lives.

Music therapy may not be the answer for everyone, but it can have a profound effect on those suffering from dementia. By providing those affected with a form of mental stimulation, relaxation, and a safe environment where they can express themselves, music therapy can make all the difference. And, who knows, it might just bring some song and laughter to your day.

Music therapy is a profound method of treatment that helps to restore the health and wellness of individuals on track.

For several years, music therapy has been used to effectively help people living with some mental health disorders like depression, anxiety, dementia, autism, etc.

When an addicted individual enters for treatment with music therapy, the first step is often counseling. This is the phase where the addiction counselor helps the addict to uncover the root cause of their addiction.

During this stage, the counselor needs the addict to be answer genuinely so that he can use the statement to create a treatment plan that would be used all through the treatment period.

After the counseling phase, the patient moves on to the therapy stage. The therapist creates an individualized treatment plan that is peculiar to the patient. If the individual resonantes with music, then music would be incorporated into their treatment routine.

During the early stages of addiction treatment, there is a chance for the patient to feel overwhelmed when treatment begins to set in.

Therefore, when music therapy is in play, it can help the patient to manage the emotional heaviness.

With music therapy, the patient can put their feelings into perspective so that they can have a clear head during addiction treatment.

Another benefit that comes with music therapy is addressing triggers that cause relapse. Some of these triggers are factors that interact with our daily life like stress, boredom, etc.

When some individuals are in recovery, they usually have the distorted belief that life would not be interesting again.

However, using music therapy can help them correct that notion. With music, they can have a better perspective on life and figure out what makes them tick.

Music therapy helps to address negative emotions like anxiety and depression. This would help individuals think better and make more profound decisions.

It is correct to say that music therapy is one of the untapped and efficacious types of therapy that is often overlooked. However, with proper guidance, addicts can get their lives back on track.

Music therapy is defined as the therapeutic use of music to improve the mental health wellness of people. Many health professionals believe music to be a clinical approach that helps individuals improve their mood, reduce stress, and perform other health functions.

When it comes to undergoing music therapy, your musical knowledge or prowess isn’t a barrier. This means that you can participate in music therapy even if you don’t have musical talents or skills.

It is crucial to know that music therapy can come in two ways. First off, it can be an active process where the patients play a pivotal role in the music creation.

Also, it can be a passive process where the patients are on the receiving end of the music.

In some cases, therapists would prefer to combine both instances to get the best out of the therapy session.

Approaches to Music therapy

• Analytical music therapy

This music therapy motivates you to use musical dialogue by either playing the instrument or singing to express yourself and your thoughts. After this session, you will share your thoughts with your therapist.

• Benenzon music therapy

This therapy combines some psychoanalysis concepts with the music-making process. With this therapy, you can discover your preferred musical sound identity. Your therapist will use these results to get the right sounds that align with your internal psychological state of mind.

• Cognitive-behavioral music therapy

This therapy approach is a mix of cognitive-behavioral therapy and music. In this approach, music is used to change and strengthen some behaviors. Some of the activities that come with this approach are singing, dancing, playing a musical instrument, etc.

Benefits of music therapy

• Reduction in blood pressure
• Memory improvement
• Improved motivation
• Pain management
• Better self-reflection
• Improved communication and social skills
• Reduction in anxiety and depression

If you love music, you are already aware that it can affect your mood. For some people, if they are feeling down and out, all they need do is, play their favorite music and they get pumped again. Studies have shown that there are several benefits that come with music therapy.

Music therapy is essential in helping people promote their emotional and mental health, and it could improve the quality of life for individuals with physical health issues.

A music therapy can integrate several elements like writing songs, making music or listening to it. Interestingly, music therapists are not only trained in music, they are trained in psychological problems, cognitive neuroscience, psychological disorders and pain management.

When you start working with a music therapist, you will commence by stating your goals. If you are anxious for instance, your goal would be to feel less anxious.

Depending on your needs, a regular music therapy session spans between 30 minutes to one hour or more. The duration of your music therapy session is actually dependent on your needs and you can decide to attend as an individual or a group.

Key findings from clinical research has shown that music is useful for people with anxiety, depression, cancer, sleep disorders and a host of others.

For depression, music therapy has proved to be an effective component. When it is combined with the regular treatments like psychotherapy and antidepressants, it has proven to be very effective.

As touching sleep disorders like Insomnia, most people have discovered that music helps them fall asleep. Studies have shown that Insomnia which is a depression symptom, can be handled with music therapy.

Music has been found to be a great strategy for chronic and acute pain management across all age groups. Hence, if you are experiencing any pain, there is a great chance that music therapy would come in handy.

If you are facing any health problem, it is not a bad idea to explore the music therapy option as there are truckloads of benefits with it.

It is quite a rare sight for you to see someone without a liking for music. Even if you cannot play an instrument or sing a song, there is still a feeling that music evokes that no other thing can. It would be surprising to note that in the operating room, surgeons have found music as an effective stress relief

The healing effects of music is music therapy in itself, and it has been proved to reduce pain, anxiety and stability.  

Also, the healing benefits of music are still explored, as there are certified music therapists who have taken it upon themselves to have a good understanding of music’s healing benefits.

Music has been found to ease anxiety and discomfort during surgical procedures. People who want to undergo surgery can be asked to listen to their favorite music in order to help reduce the pain and discomfort.

Studies have shown those who listened to music in the recovery room did not have much need for opioid medication.

In addition, music helps to reduce the adverse effects of cancer therapy. When you listen to music, it helps to reduce the anxiety that comes with radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Hence, it can reduce vomiting and nausea for patients in chemotherapy.

Also, when you listen to music, it helps you stick to a routine. If you are undergoing physical therapy, music therapy aids your wellbeing and overall wellness. It also helps your emotional, psychological and cognitive functioning during rehabs.

Interestingly, people who have dementia have a lot to gain with music therapy. Studies have shown that music helps to evoke memories and improve communication. Hence, people with dementia will be able to remember lost memories and communicate properly.

If you are facing a health problem, music therapy might be the way out for you. Hence, it is advised to reach out to a music therapist who will be able to help you. It would go a long way in bringing your life back on track.

The major basis for group music therapy is the purpose of communication. A group music therapy tends to promote the interaction and growth of people with the aid of music.

A good number of music therapy groups come with a broad variety of therapeutic encounters which are hinged on the needs of the group.

Each musical experience has been adeptly designed by the therapists to trigger satisfaction. Hence, each individual in therapy is usually motivated to contribute their best.

It is important for the music therapist to develop a good relationship with his or her clients, in order to foster rehab success in the long run.

A rehab that offers group music therapy would be willing to partner with various bodies for the purpose of ensuring wellness.

The goal of group music therapy is usually to provide enriching programs that would be beneficiary to all individuals.

The programs for group music therapy are designed based on the specific needs of the individuals. As you would expect, a program which is tailored according to a specific need would thrive better than a general one.

During group music therapy, the therapist would ensure that all registered clients either take part in the active or receptive form of music.

Music comes with lots of therapeutic benefits and it is the responsibility of the therapists to ensure that everyone reaps from it.

People who have mental health problems would find group music therapy very useful. This is possible because, they will meet other people who have similar problems to theirs.

This would be the perfect avenue to get motivated by the experiences of other people in therapy.

For clients in group music therapy, the first problem they must solve, is the issue of clarity and openness. You need to be free with your therapist so that assessment and evaluation would come easy.

Group music therapy goes a long way in solving addiction problems, mental health problems and even physical illnesses.

Music is a powerful tool that has the capacity to help us in many ways than one. Music fights pain and stress effectively. No matter the genre of music that you are interested in, music works with your preference.

This is why it is important for you to have your own playlist. This playlist would always come in handy when you want to relax.

Before you start harnessing the benefits of music therapy, you need to find out your specialty. There is an essential need to know the type of music that provides a soothing and comfortable effect.

Once you know this, it would be easy to incorporate it into your everyday life.

If you are not aware of which healing music helps you, then you need a music therapist. A music therapist is highly proficient in evaluating your interests and taste, and when you visit once, you will be glad at the progress you have made.

Music is therapeutic to the extent that it assists women when they want to give birth. This is why some women would recommend that music is played during the course of their labour.

Their preferred type of music helps them relax and takes their mind off the pain being experienced.

In health facilities, music therapy has been seen to help patients go through bouts of pain that they experience on a daily basis.

Music provides ample protection for the heart. Listening to music might not necessarily take the place of working out. However, you can do both at the same time.

Also, music therapy helps to fight addiction which many people are not aware of. When addicts take part in a group session, they will realize that it would be easy to find social tie and emotional liberty.

Being aware of these therapeutic benefits of music gives you the factual notion that, you do not compulsorily need to be a song composer or an instrumentalist. All you need do, is to appreciate the beauty of music, and harness it for your own good.

Music therapists employ the use of music in a relaxing environment to assist individuals who are going through mental and emotional problems.

Also, people who have physical health problems and physical diseases have a lot to gain from music therapy.

Music therapy is an aspect of psychological therapy where music is used to enhance the relationship between the therapists and clients.

In addition to this, music therapy is used to improve the wellness of the clients and their capability to interact.

This form of therapy comes in handy for clients who find it difficult to communicate. It is also herculean for people who do not know how to verbally express their emotions.  

To become a music therapists, having an undergraduate music degree is not compulsory. However, it is necessary for you to undergo a training course in music therapy that is approved by the health regulatory body in your country.

You might not necessarily be a graduate, but proficiency in music is essential and you might be required to undergo a music audition.

One of the needed skills for a music therapists is maturity. He or she must be professional in all their dealings.

During assessment and evaluation sessions, they must be done from a professional angle and not in a biased form.

Also, a music therapist must have great interpersonal and communication skills. A music therapist who is not able to communicate properly would find it difficult to achieve progress in the long run.

Good communication skills helps the therapists to have a good idea of what the client is going through. With this information, it would be easy for the therapist to draw out a treatment schedule.

Furthermore, it is necessary for a music therapist to have good musical ability. This ability is what forms the core of music therapy. Creativity and intuition should also not be left out, the therapist is expected to exude all these.

When it comes to difficult situations, a music therapist needs to have the ability to match up to any of them.

For a good number of people, music is healthy and comforting. It is one of the soothing ways for the expression of emotions.

Either you really appreciate music or you come up with yours, music has proven to be a good tool for coping with grief and managing it.

This tip comes in handy for people who find it easy to connect with music, and the lyrics in such a manner that they can feel it as a way of expressing their emotions.

If you are someone who loves music, then it would be a good tool that will help you get over grief and loss. You can decide to select some music for the person you lost.

These songs should always serve as a reminder. You can also include songs that your lost loved one would typically play; one that they are usually fond of.

There is one good way to check if songs have a meaningful message, and this is to pay rapt attention to the music you listen to daily when you are grieving.

There are some songs that you do not really think of, before they make you teary-eyed or make you emotional.

Another proficient way to use music is to listen during moments of relaxation or when you are in your grief period.

There are some people who listen to music all through their daily activities, so that they are not reminded of the reason why they are grieving.

If you are someone who loves writing songs, then you can write a song for your lost loved one. In Literary terms, this are two broad aspects: Elegy and Dirge.

So, as a way of expressing your grief, you can write a song for a person.

Also, if you are someone who has not written a song before, this could be a chance to give it a trial. When coping with grief, music is an expression. You are the only person who needs to enjoy the music.

Music therapy is the recommended usage of music by a qualified professional. Usually, the reason for music therapy is to effect positive changes in any specific area of the individual’s life.

Music therapists are so skilled at what they do. They evaluate the physical health, mental health, emotional and social health of an individual through their response to music.

Music therapists also schedule music sessions for groups and individuals, and this selection is hinged on the needs of the client. There are a whole lot of features that are used in music therapy.

The therapists uses music performance, lyric discussion, music improvisation, song writing and a host of others.

It would interest you to know that, music is a very powerful feature. During music therapy sessions, it is the responsibility of the therapists to create a bond with their patients.

The reason for this is to pave way for enhanced confidence, improvement in communication skills, attention and a host of others.

One of the major objectives of a music therapists is to attain a moment of change. During this phase, they are expected to reinforce their relationship with their clients. This phenomenon is referred to as synchronization.

Music therapy has the capacity to enhance a good number of conditions especially mental health problems.

All through the world, various researches has been made on the efficacy of music therapy, and the results had always been encouraging.

During music therapy, there are some hormones that are released into our body. These hormones aid the therapists to assess the patient better.

The two common hormones released into the body are Endorphin and Dopamine.

Endorphin is the hormone that is released into the body which gives the individual a happy feeling and a sense of elation. Endorphin has also been proved to act as a proficient pain reliever.

For Dopamine, this is the “feel-good” hormone and when it is discharged, it enhances the pleasure receptors. This is the same chemical that is initiated when we meet a need that our body requires.