Being a teenager is tough, especially when school stress piles up. This stress can really affect how teenagers feel about themselves and low self-esteem can make things even harder for them. Feeling bad about themselves can lead to other problems like feeling anxious or sad, however, researchers wanted to see how music therapy could make a difference. Music therapy focuses on the elements and power of music to help reduce stress and boost self-esteem. Researchers examined how music listening could help teenagers feel better about themselves, especially when they’re stressed out about school. They wanted to see if music therapy could improve their self-esteem. They selected 60 teenagers who were…
A stroke can result in a number of effects such as impaired speech, weakness or paralysis on one side of the body, and impaired cognition. Stroke patients typically work with speech, physical, and occupational therapists, but what about music therapists? A recent article by Tara Rajendran and Martha Summa-Chadwick examined the use of music therapy in neurological rehabilitation, particularly focused on stroke rehabilitation. This article examined the use of music therapy in neurological rehabilitation to discuss the scope and potential of music therapy in stroke recovery. Music is processed in many different areas of the brain rather than predominantly on one side or in a specific area of the brain.…
Singing together can promote positive biopsychosocial outcomes in adults who are dealing with a variety of neurological symptoms and issues. When researching these types of benefits and their outcomes, it is important to collect data that reflects qualitative and quantitative information. Viewing a person’s overall wellbeing and quality of life from a biopsychosocial perspective reinforces that a person’s wellbeing isn’t tied to one factor, like health for example. Music is an excellent medium to facilitate focusing on the whole person; not just the social, biological or psychological domains separately, but all together. This study, published in Voices: A World Forum for Music Therapy, aims to explore the experiences of participants…
Bjorgvin prison, nestled within Norway’s open woodlands, challenges conventional perceptions of incarceration. Established in 2006 to address long waiting times for sentencing, the prison houses 90 male inmates, each with surprising freedoms, including keys to their own rooms. In this unique environment, music therapy emerges as a powerful force in shaping emotional landscapes. The prison’s music room becomes a “musical emotion zone,” offering a sanctuary for self-expression. Inmates describe their music room as a non-judgmental space where they feel like musicians. This study sheds light on the nuanced role of music therapy in prison settings, emphasizing its potential to create emotional spaces, challenge stereotypes, and foster connections. While acknowledging the…
In the hustle and bustle of our modern lives, stress has become an omnipresent companion, affecting our physical and mental well-being. As we search for holistic approaches to manage stress, one avenue that I have a biased preference for, with its ability to soothe the soul and elevate our mood, is the practice of music therapy. Music has the unique ability to stimulate various regions of the brain responsible for emotions, memory, and even physical responses. Listening to or creating music triggers the release of neurotransmitters like dopamine, promoting feelings of pleasure and relaxation. In a recent Meta- analysis study (a document summarizing multiple studies) on the…
Music therapy continues to gain acceptance in hospice and palliative care with each passing year. Music therapy is a modality that can work towards improving pain perception, communication and quality of life for terminally ill patients. Additionally, a music therapist can use music to decrease agitation, depression, and disruptive behaviors. The music therapist focuses on using patient preferred music along with their expertise and education to accomplish these goals. Throughout the profession’s growing body of literature, some studies have suggested that music therapy can decrease the use of pain medicine while increasing the effectiveness of hospice team members and other caregivers. Providing patients with care that seeks to improve…
Many people with neurological disorders, like stroke, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson’s disease, also experience mood disorders and depression. However, these conditions are often not diagnosed or treated adequately, impacting the patients’ recovery, treatment adherence, quality of life, and even mortality risk. There may also be a connection between depression and the development of neurological disorders. Despite the known benefits of music therapy (MT) on various aspects of neurological disorders, there’s a lack of updated information on how music interventions affect mood, emotions, and depression in these patients. This article aimed to review existing studies on musical interventions and their impact on mood and depression in neurological patients. The study…
A review of this nature allowed for a quick, succinct look into the clinical uses of music therapy with the military population and the variety of benefits shown in the current literature. The use of music for entertainment and to increase motivation, stimulation, and morale dates back to the Civil War, and this tradition continued throughout both World Wars. Eventually, in 1945, the military incorporated music into their programs. This marked the very beginning of the music therapy profession! The medium of music therapy can be used in the treatment of active duty military service members, veterans, and military family members. Music therapists can and have worked with military service…
Being in the hospital for any length of time can be anxiety-provoking for many individuals. Not only is there a high rate of anxiety associated with hospitalization, but this anxiety can also create additional negative somatic (i.e., chest pain, palpitations, etc.) and psychological effects. Anxiety in hospitals may be treated with drugs to help alleviate symptoms, but these often offer short-term effects. Researchers Brown, Patton, Freilich, & Heiderscheit completed a retrospective review of medical charts, focusing on verbal anxiety ratings of adult hospital patients before and after music therapy sessions. All music therapy sessions, as is typically in the nature of music therapy, were tailored to each individual based on…