East Tennessee Music Therapy

Music therapy offers a way for children and teens to express themselves verbally and non-verbally, providing a safe space to process difficult feelings. Traumatic experiences can be buried in sensory memories, making them hard to discuss in regular talk therapy. Music can help break down these barriers and boost self-awareness, paving the way for healing and a brighter future.

Clients often express themselves more easily through music, whether by using existing songs or writing their own to share their feelings. A trained therapist helps guide this process to encourage healing and growth. Music therapy sessions involve the use of active making music, music listening, and conversation.

Music therapy is the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to address non-music therapeutic goals under the care of a board-certified music therapist.

Human beings are hard-wired to respond to music. When people hear or make music, all regions of the brain are activated simultaneously - in fact, the only sensory experience to do so - which affects our bodies and our minds. Music can affect our breathing, influence movement, and prompt speech, in addition to the ways it can affect us emotionally, mentally, and existentially.

Additionally, music can facilitate the development of new neural pathways. This means children and teens who engage in music therapy may see benefits in executive functioning skills such as decision-making and problem-solving and social skills such as prosocial behavior.

In general, there are two categories of music interventions - active and receptive.

• Active music interventions may involve:

  • Therapeutic drumming

  • Songwriting

  • Instrumental &/or Vocal Improvisation

  • Body percussion

• Receptive music interventions can include:

  • Music listening

  • Creating meaningful playlists

  • Lyric analysis

  • Music-assisted relaxation

A board-certified music therapist (MT-BC) is a professional who has completed an approved degree in music therapy and 1200 hours of clinical training, including a supervised internship. The credential is granted by the Certification Board for Music Therapists (CBMT) following a candidate passing the national board certification exam. MT-BC’s are responsible for continuing education and adhering to the ethical and professional standards of the profession. For more information, visit the American Music Therapy Association’s website: https://www.musictherapy.org/.

Assessment

Assessment is a necessary part of the music therapy clinical process. Music therapists may use a variety of assessment tools along with information shared by other healthcare providers or teachers who work with the child. Music therapists also gather information from parents or caregivers, when appropriate.

When assessing the child or teen directly, music therapists also look at:

• Musical preferences

• Musical background

• Musical skills

• Individual trauma history

• Individual trauma triggers

Treatment Planning

Factors taken into account when developing individualized goals and objectives include:

• Therapeutic need(s)

• Client’s age and developmental level

• Physical and cognitive abilities, including sensory processing issues or needs

• Individual trauma triggers

Evaluation

Music therapists regularly assess client progress and make adjustments or modify the treatment plan as necessary. The continuation or termination of music therapy services are based on a variety of factors, including length of stay or treatment (if applicable), client preference, client progress, and funding (including third-party sources).