Author Archives: Josie

There are several factors that affect how intensely a person feels grief, including their relationship to the deceased, whether the death was sudden or expected, and the age of the grieving individual. A child or an adolescent’s understanding of death can affect the intensity of their grief, and being younger can affect how they process what they are feeling. Music therapy can be a beneficial medium for an individual to process their emotions during such a difficult time. More specifically, songwriting as a music therapy intervention can provide insight into how a child or an adolescent is coping, how they process death, and can shed light onto their level of…

One challenge researchers have is obtaining large sample sizes for their studies.  This has historically been true, especially in music therapy, but what is most important is that those doing research continue to do so.  More research is always needed! This particular study was interesting to me as a Neurologic Music Therapy Fellow (NMT-F) as it looks at how children with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) could improve their attention span by having better motor skills.  I work with several children with ASD and I am hearing more and more about how those with ASD are challenged when it comes to motor movement.  What is even more exciting is that I…

A recent study has shed light on the benefits of music therapy for preterm infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), offering important insights for music therapists, caregivers, and healthcare providers. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to understand the effectiveness of music therapy in improving the health and development of preterm infants in the NICU, compiling data from 13 trials involving over a thousand participants.  The findings showed that music therapy had a important influence on several key factors: it steadied heart rates and breathing rates, improved feeding volume, and reduced stress levels in infants. Mothers also benefited as the therapy helped to lower their stress.  These mothers…

Adults with dementia can also suffer from depression. For these adults, these depressive symptoms can be further aggravated with an admission to a skilled nursing facility. While some medicine may be necessary, the literature suggests that music may be a wonderful medium to use in the treatment of dementia and depression symptoms.    There is also research to suggest that group music therapy and choral singing have positive effects on adults with dementia and depression. More research is always needed to further solidify the significance of these findings. In this article, a group of researchers set out to identify a way to research the effectiveness of these music therapy interventions…

According to the United States National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 46.8 million Americans ages 12 and older had a substance use disorder in 2022 (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration, 2023). Many music therapists (including some at Central Ohio Music Therapy) work in drug/alcohol rehabilitation facilities or work with people in other settings that have struggled with substance use disorders. How might these music therapists be helping those with substance use disorders? Music can be used for increasing mood, decreasing pain perception, increasing self-confidence, and for a number of other goals, but it also may aid in alleviating psychological symptoms associated with substance use disorders and in…

Music therapy (MT) is often seen as a helpful treatment for young people with mental health issues, but its effectiveness in real-world clinical settings is still uncertain. A recent study examined how effective MT is for children and adolescents in clinical practice, aiming to provide clearer insights into its potential benefits and limitations. I found this study interesting since I work with teens in multiple clinical settings.  The study involved 251 children aged 8-16 years from six Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) centers in Northern Ireland. These children had various social, emotional, behavioral, and developmental difficulties. Participants were divided into two groups: one group received 12 weekly sessions…

I recently started working with a number of children on the Autism Spectrum (ASD – Autism Spectrum Disorder).  I also have a son who is 39, diagnosed years ago with the same diagnosis.  I hear more and more individuals say, “I have a _________ (relative – nephew, cousin, niece, etc.) with ASD.”  What does this mean?  How is that more and more individuals are being diagnosed with this disorder?  I also hear parents say, my child is “neuro-divergent.”  In the medical community, what are they finding? Back in the late 80’s, my husband and I went through a series of tests with our son to find out that he was…

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…