Music Therapy and Child Abuse

Getting lost in music can be a quick emotional fix that will have positive long lasting effects

The article “Effects of Music Therapy on Depression Compared with Psychotherapy” states that “Our results show a statistically significant effect for music, with the music-therapy group revealing a better improvement in their symptoms than the psychotherapy group” (Castillo-Pérez et al). This result illustrates that although psychotherapy helps patients live with their mental disorders it doesn't help them significantly improve the mental state they are in. Psychotherapy acts as a medication rather than a treatment while music therapy has a dual purpose of acting as a treatment and a

“The American Music Therapy Association (AMTA) defines music therapy as ‘an established health profession in which music is used within a therapeutic relationship to address physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of individuals’” (Barnett & Shale, 2013, p.48). Music Therapy (MT) is shown to be able to help people with many different kinds of mental health problems such as anxiety, stress, and minor cases of depression. There have been many studies done showing that MT is an effective form of therapy that can improve someone’s overall Quality Of Life (QOL). MT is known as an alternative technique therapy. It is often used instead of, or along with, medication to produce a result in the patience who need it. MT involves all aspects of the music process, including listening to, writing, singing, and analyzing music. Overall MT addresses physical and emotional problems and is used to enhance the life and health of the patient. This review is simply to inform readers of the effects music and MT has on mental health, specifically:

There are many different ways that we benefit from music. Music can inspire better self-esteem, and confidence. It’s a great way to set the mood, and a wonderful tool. Music therapy is the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional who has completed an approved music therapy program (Gram, 2005). Music therapy can reach out to anyone, age, race, gender it doesn’t matter. Children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly with mental health needs can benefit from music therapy. As well as, those who have developmental and learning disabilities, those who suffer from Alzheimer's

Music therapy is the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by an accredited professional who as completed an approved music therapy program. “Music therapists hope that scientific research continues to define how their work differs from entertainment, and how it benefits patients as much as other more familiar complementary therapies such as art therapy.” (Mellskog) This shows how even though there is little research and evidence on music therapy, it is still very effective and a

Original Thesis Statement: Incorporating art-based activities and techniques effectively develops coping skills, self expression, open communication, and begins the healing process for children who have experienced trauma.

It is no secret that music has a strange way of reaching people who were previously thought to be too far gone. Music has the capability to connect to individuals and touch them in a way that causes them to have some strange reactions (Warner et al, 35-36). These reactions aren’t fully understood but have the possibility to lead to great medical advancements. While some psychologists, and parents are strong believers in the helpful effects of music on people’s mental health, others see the dangers that come with music’s great influence and think it could be used as a dangerous tool against individuals.

Music shows how early trauma and neglect can impair a child’s education, social activities and life. Children need constant parental monitoring in order to thrive. Without constant redirection, nurturing and advice - especially in vulnerable communities like impoverished homes and poor neighborhoods - external negative influences can neglect can set in triggering PTSD-like symptoms. In short, without parental monitoring, children do not learn the necessities in order to live life to the fullest. Music explains PTSD to include “intrusive thoughts” and “flashbacks.” “Interpersonal trauma” refers to injuries and neglect that can be sustained within families. Children are negatively impacted by neglect because if the parent is unable to meet the child’s basic and psychological needs, then not only is the child at risk, but the parent is demonstrating irresponsible behavior. This, in turn, becomes the normalcy for these children and they bring these irresponsible behaviors into adulthood and the

Music Therapists (MTs) borrow from a range of non-music based therapy models in their development of Music Therapy-specific treatment models. Many widely used Music Therapy (MT) techniques have their roots in psychological theories and treatment models. Cognitive Behavioural Music Therapy (CBMT) draws on the widely-used and extensively researched psychology approach, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), to address CBT goals through MT interventions. Despite the many parralels between CBT and MT there is limited literature on CBMT; the existing literature indicates that CBMT may be an effective treatment for clients with a variety of needs. Improvisation in CBMT makes up an even smaller portion of the literature, however the theoretical underpinnings of the CBT approach are congruent with the use of music improvisation.

of their traumatic experience in a positive way as Pellitteri states: “Music therapy methods such

Needle pricks, medicine, exhaustion, sickness, pain, feeling different ‒ these are just a few of the things that people with mental disabilities and serious diseases have to go through on a daily basis. But what if there was a different kind of treatment that could comfort them or reduce their pain even a little bit? Fortunately, for the people facing these issues, there is. Music therapy is a relatively new approach that doctors, teachers, and many others are taking to help heal and improve the quality of life for their patients and students. It’s starting to become more common around the United States and is expected to become even more popular in the future. Books like Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart support the idea of music therapy by demonstrating how music can be used to soothe and improve the moods of individuals regardless of what they may be going through. Music therapy is an effective way to speed up the healing process and improve the emotional state of a wide range of people facing different obstacles in life.

The health issue under examination is this study is psychological distress among cancer patients treated with radiotherapy. The researchers examine this health issue because oncology patients usually respond to diagnosis and treatment through emotional expressions or symptoms in the form of anxiety. Some of the most commonly expressed forms of anxiety include stress, depression, fear, and frustration (Chen, Wang, Shih & Wu, 2013, p.436). While these researchers focus on how music therapy helps to lessen this anxiety, they do not demonstrate how it is

Thesis statement: The purpose of this paper is to investigate the subject of music therapy in terms of the way it works, importance, as well as reflect on the the impact and benefits of music therapy for children and their families.

What is music therapy? Music therapy is “the skillful use of music and musical elements by an accredited music therapist to promote, maintain, and restore mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual health (Ulbricht, Psychology Today).” Since the beginning of time, music therapy has been documented in multiple ways. In the Old Testament of the Bible, David was found comforting Saul with his harp. Also, Plato and Aristotle both wrote of the virtues of music to calm and soothe, as well as for stimulation and motivation. On the contrary, music therapy wasn’t a professional discipline in the United States until the 1940s. In the 21st century, it has broadened even further and is used in diverse areas of medicine, such as cancer, palliative and pain control for surgical patients. Even with countless experiments and evidence, there are plenty of people that are still suspicious of the therapeutic benefits of music. As a result of this, music has been found as one of the least-funded activities in schools and universities.

A song or a piece of music has the power to transform an individual and take them not only to a different state of mind, but quite possibly a different consciousness. Making or singing music also has the power to transform an individual. “There is a resemblance of music in pitch, volume, rhythm, melody and structure to the natural human expression of emotion in voice, demeanor and behavior” (Ushedo, 2006, 1). Making music can create an environment where it indirectly teaches individuals communication and social skills through the emotions brought out by the music. The social interaction between individuals with behavioral problems has been aided by using musical activities. It can “encourage or motivate communication through musical activities, which are responsive to the child to promote eye contact, turn taking, sharing, joint attention” (Stephenson, 2006, 297). While creating a calmer and more relaxed environment with musical activities, behavioral problems can be aided through the use of this form of music therapy.