5 Music Therapy Myths Busted
Even though music therapy has been an established healthcare profession since the 1940s, and music has been lauded as a powerful healing influence since the days of King David, Plato, and Aristotle, it’s still not widely understood. January is online advocacy month for the music therapy field, so I’d like to debunk some common misconceptions about the field of music therapy.
Myth #1: Music therapy is only for kids.
Music therapy is a powerful modality, both for kids and for adults. In a nutshell, music therapy helps people of any age attain physical, emotional, and mental well-being – whatever that may look like for them. Kids may approach music therapy more playfully than some adults, but I believe that everyone connects with music on some level, and that music helps us connect both to others and to our own bodies and minds.
Music therapists work with pregnant mothers, in the NICU, and through the lifespan all the way to elderly people, and those receiving hospice services. I personally have worked with people as young as 1 and as old as 103 – music touches us all, and can be a powerful tool for health and wellness. Music can be a profound way to explore and express the feelings that may feel too deep or frightening or unknown for words.
Myth #2: I can’t sing/play an instrument/carry a tune, so I won’t be any good at music therapy.
Music therapy is not about playing the “right” notes, or sounding like a pop star, and will likely feel very different than music lessons. Music therapists are trained to help people experience music in a variety of healthy, nurturing ways – sometimes it doesn’t involve playing instruments at all, but more receptive experiences like music listening/discussing or music-assisted relaxation/guided imagery.
When my clients improvise music sometimes the “ugly” music is the most meaningful – it can be very powerful to play out your anger or sadness or frustration, have someone bear witness to it, and play with you.
Music therapists are also trained to provide successful music-making experiences for their clients – whether that’s a single note on a bell or one swipe across a wind chime.
Myth #3: Music therapy is only for people with developmental disabilities, dementia, brain injuries, or people who can’t communicate verbally.
Music therapists have special training in facilitating music experiences that allow for connection, self-expression, and awareness, where words are not needed. However, music therapy is not purely a non-verbal modality. A great deal of the work I do involves verbal discussion and processing (much like a talk therapist), whether it’s writing a song with an anxious 8 year old, or discussing the emotions expressed in the music we just played with an adult client.
The beauty of the music therapy process is that the therapeutic work can take place purely in the music or in a combination of words and music. It really depends on each individual client or group, and their goals and needs.
Myth #4: Music therapy is just fun, and doesn’t address serious issues.
Music therapy often looks like fun, so I won’t lie to you – sometimes it is!
But underneath the fun, goals are always being addressed, ranging from reciprocal play skills, initiating and responding musically and verbally, self-awareness, frustration tolerance, and more. Music therapy can also address serious issues – I have worked with people dealing with grief and loss, depression, suicidal thoughts, anxiety, and serious mental and physical illnesses.
The music is a valuable tool in exploring and processing the intense emotions surrounding these issues, developing coping skills, and more.
Myth #5: Music therapists are not “real therapists”.
Music therapists hold a college degree in music therapy, complete a 1,200 hour clinical internship, and are board-certified (MT-BC) by the Certification Board for Music Therapists.
In order to maintain the MT-BC credential, 100 continuing education credits must be completed every 5 years.
In New York State, music therapists are eligible to become licensed creative arts therapists (LCAT), which is a mental health psychotherapy license. I hold this license in addition to my MT-BC, which means I have completed an approved Masters degree, passed a State-approved exam, and completed 1,500 hours of supervised clinical experience.
Still have doubts or questions about music therapy? Did I miss any myths you’d like me to address?
Please leave me a comment below – I look forward to hearing from you!
About the Author
Maya is a music therapist and psychotherapist in NYC and online throughout New York State. She specializes in helping women with anxiety, childhood/intergenerational trauma and those who are highly sensitive (HSP) feel good enough, learn how to express their feelings without overwhelm, and show up in calm and confident ways in their work and relationships.
If you’re interested in working with Maya, you can learn more here or schedule your free phone consultation here.
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