Music Therapy uses music, music instruments and sounds to help the person express themselves even when words are not accessible due to the emotional state, illness, injury or other conditions. Everyone has innate musicality and music here is thought of in the broadest sense of the word. Music can help us express thoughts and feelings that we are not consciously aware of and enable us to process them. Music can also help us connect with others and with the world. Even when there is limited mobility, it is possible to make and engage with music.
Music therapy can support emotional, cognitive, social, communication and physical needs at every stage of life. Music has innate connection to our emotions and can help regardless of the way we process information and express ourselves. It can help a person express and process emotions that they can’t put into words (and often are not even consciously aware of).
It can help create bond and feelings of closeness and connection with significant others.
It can help children find helpful ways to communicate their emotions and needs, regulate their emotions, improve attention and focus, support their confidence and their relationships at school and at home.
It can help with emotional regulation, finding connection with your true inner self and heal past traumas.
It can also be about making tiniest of movements and developing and supporting physical skills, e.g. fine motor skills, speech in a comforting and uplifting space.
Everyone can benefit from music therapy, including children and adults with mental health needs, people with autistic spectrum condition, people with additional support needs, people whose life has been affected by dementia, people affected by physical and mental illness, injury, parents, carers and so on.
You can follow this link to the British Association for Music Therapy to find more information about music therapy in the UK.
Music Therapy in Edinburgh - Tatiana Rodionova 