Music
Therapy and Psychiatry
Music therapists work with people with mental heath disorders including
schizophrenia, depression, bipolar disorders, anxiety disorders, obsessive
compulsive disorders and post traumatic stress disorder. Music therapy
can provide this population with an alternative means of communication
and a chance to express themselves through improvisation, song writing
or lyric analysis.
Music
Therapy and Social Skills
Psychiatric disorders can often impair social interaction and social
skills. Music therapy can provide opportunities for safe group and individual
musical experiences, address how people interact with their environment
and examine how they affect their environment. Music can encourage social
interaction among patients. The interaction may take the form of talking
about thoughts and feelings, contributing to group experience, cooperating
with others or responding to others' needs. Interpersonal interaction
can take place through music listening techniques lead by the music
therapist (Thaut & Smeltekop, 1990).
Music
Therapy and Emotions
Music therapy can provide a safe environment for a client to alleviate
their feelings with a person who can ‘ process and reflect the patient’s
expression in a modified form’ (Jensen, 1999, p. 47). Preference and
familiar music are important in this area. ‘If patients are to be reached,
the music employed must be that which they understand, at least to some
extent’ (Gaston, 1968, p. 22). Gfeller (1990) argues that music can
‘reflect, influence and alter emotional response’ (p. 59) and therefore
is a valuable therapeutic device in music therapy processes including
‘identification, awareness, reflection or expression of feelings and
relevant issues’ (p.59).
Music
Therapy and Communication
People with mental health difficulties may find communication with others
difficult. As music therapy can help social and interpersonal interaction
and emotional expression, so to can it help communication difficulties.
Sears (1968) reports that clients ‘may express in music or through musical
preferences feelings not otherwise expressible. Music may speak where
words fail’ (p. 43). Music therapy techniques such as song writing,
lyric analysis and improvisation can be used to assist the client in
development of their communication skills.
Music
Therapy and Self-Esteem
Low self-esteem can be part of many mental health disorders. Music therapy
can act as a psychotherapeutic agent to improve low self-esteem. Improvisation,
group singing, movement techniques and dancing can provide a client
with sensory and social feedback, successful musical experiences that
can promote self-worth and promote body awareness and identity (Thaut
& Smeltekop, 1990).
Music
Therapy and Relaxation
Anxiety disorders are common and can be helped by relaxation techniques.
Studies show that music can be used to effectively reduce anxiety and
promote muscle relaxation (Thaut & Smeltekop, 1990). Clients’ musical
preference is important to consider when using music for relaxation
purposes. The idea of stimulating and sedative music increasing and
decreasing anxiety respectively does not apply to everyone. Music imagery
can be used to help the client reduce tension and focus on positive
thoughts and feelings (Gfeller & Thaut, 1999). Imaging should not be
used with people who are delusional or have psychotic disorders.
Music
Therapy and Cognition
Music is a time ordered, structured stimulus. People with psychotic
disorders may have poor reality orientation whereas people with mood
or anxiety disorders may have insight into their disability. Music therapy
can provide treatment programs geared towards the clients’ level of
cognition and awareness. Structured reality based music experiences
such as writing a song can help reality orientation, divert from neurotic
concerns or obsessions and help improve impulsive behaviour control
(Gfeller & Thaut, 1999).
References
Gaston, E.T. (1968). Man and music. In E.T. Gaston Music in therapy.
London: Collier-Macmillan.
Gfeller,
KE. (1990). Music as communication. In R.F.Unkefer (Ed.) Music therapy
in the treatment of adults with mental disorders: Theoretical bases
and clinical interventions. New York: Schirmer.
Gfeller,
K.E. & Thaut, M.H. (1999). Music therapy in the treatment of mental
disorders. In W.B. Davis, K.E. Gfeller & M.H. Thaut (Eds.) An introduction
to music therapy theory and practice. Boston: Mc-Graw-Hill College.
Jensen, B.
(1999). Music therapy with psychiatric in-patients: A case study with
a young schizophrenic man. In T. Wigram & J. De Backer (Eds.) Clinical
applications of music therapy in psychiatry. London: Jessica Kingsley.
Sears, W.W.
(1968). Processes in music therapy. In E.T. Gaston Music in therapy.
London: Collier-Macmillan.
Thaut, M.H.
& Smeltekop, R.A. (1990). Psychosocial and neurophysiological aspects
of music therapy interventions. In R.F.Unkefer (Ed.) Music therapy
in the treatment of adults with mental disorders: Theoretical bases
and clinical interventions. New York: Schirmer.
Further
Reading
Cassity,
M.D. & Casssity, J.E. (1998). Multimodal psychiatric music therapy
for adults, adolescents and children: A clinical manual. St. Louis,
MO: MMB, Music.
Tyson, F.
(1981). Psychiatric music therapy: Origins and development. New
York: Wiedner & Son.
Unkefer,
R.F. (1990). Music therapy in the treatment of adults with mental
disorders: Theoretical bases and clinical interventions. New York:
Schirmer.
Wigram, T.
& De Backer, J. (Eds.) (1999). Clinical applications of music therapy
in psychiatry. London: Jessica Kingsley.