Music therapy is the specialized use of music by a credentialed professional who develops individualized treatment and supportive interventions with people of all ages and ability levels to address their social, communication, emotional, physical, cognitive, behavioral, sensory and/or spiritual needs.
As parents, we’ve all been there. Perhaps you’ve been there as the mom who gets a call from the teacher after her daughter ran out of the classroom in a fit of frustration. Or perhaps you have been there as the dad whose son was sent home from a birthday party after calling someone an inappropriate name. Maybe you’ve been there as you watched your son or daughter struggle with seemingly unexplained anxiety when it came time to go to school, or when he/she struggled to make friends. If you’re a parent, at some point you’ve probably been there.
It may be that your child is struggling to communicate, pay attention, follow directions or calm their out-of-control tantrums. Perhaps he or she becomes defiant and angry, or they just don’t seem to be themselves lately. Your situation may be unique but one thing is generally the same: your heart hurts in those moments and you feel powerless to help.
If we look deeper, we will see that beneath every behavior is a child desperate to succeed, but just might not know how. What happens when being there leaves you feeling hopeless, sad or exhausted? Where do you turn when a little extra support is needed to navigate the labyrinth of raising healthy, well-adjusted children in today’s demanding world?
At LiveFree Counseling, we are here to help by offering music therapy services to children. According to the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA), “Music therapy provides a unique variety of music experiences in an intentional and developmentally appropriate manner to effect changes in a child’s behavior and facilitate development of his/her communication, social/emotional, sensori-motor, and/or cognitive skills.”
Most kids love music. It’s engaging, non-threatening, and allows children to feel safe as they use music to identify, explore and express their emotions. Music effortlessly becomes the tool to teach coping strategies and to develop skills. All sessions at LiveFree Counseling are facilitated by our board-certified music therapist and are designed to help your child develop skills in their own areas of need, at their own pace. The benefits of music therapy speak for themselves:
- Kids learn best through creative experiences and play. Music is both creative and playful.
- While highly motivating, music can also have a calming and relaxing effect. Kids feel more in control when they can calm their own bodies and relax their minds.
- Participation in enjoyable music activities gives kids an opportunity to experience success and feel better about themselves.
- Music therapy can give kids with limited vocabulary a non-verbal way to express and understand big feelings and helps them cope with stressful situations.
- Music can build skills related to making friends, communicating needs, and tolerating difficult or frustrating situations.
During a music therapy session, your child may engage in singing, listening, moving, playing, or other creative exercises known as Therapeutic Music Experiences (TMEs). TMEs utilize the music medium to support skill development in non-musical areas. No two sessions are alike, because no two kids are alike!
Your child will be welcomed in a safe, non-threatening way in order that rapport, safety and trust can be built between the music therapist and child. Our music therapist will get to know your child’s strengths and positive qualities while also observing his/her behavior and interactions to assess for areas which may need some extra attention. After realistic goals are identified and established, music therapy treatment programs, procedures and techniques will be designed specifically for your individual child. And the best part!? Your child will enjoy the journey towards healing and skill development!
At LiveFree Counseling, we’ve been there too. You don’t have to help your child navigate these unique challenges alone. We are here to come alongside you by offering music therapy to help your child thrive. To learn more or to schedule a session, please call 720.465.6180.
