Mental Health and Music Therapy

Mental Health and Music Therapy

Music Therapy and mental health is an area in which a Music Therapist may work with an individual in a psychodynamic way to address problems rooted in the clients past; with the medium for communication being predominantly improvised music. Group work can be beneficial as a means of exploring relationships, reducing social isolation and facilitating a greater self-understanding. There have been a number of studies that reflect on music therapy being beneficial with people living with Schizophrenia, Depression and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) amongst other pathology.

Here is a link to the British Association for Music Therapy (BAMT) supporting the use of Music Therapy in mental health.

Music therapists are not music entertainers, such as orchestral musicians. If a service user attends music therapy in any security hospital, centre, clinic or community setting, they are requesting engagement, showing intent and looking to explore their lives differently. Music therapy in mental health supports service users psychologically and it is undertaken within a psycho-dynamic framework which enables clients to explore and understand how they are feeling, as well as to learn how music can be used to express themselves, relax and increase well-being.