What Music Therapy Will and Will Not Do for You
Music therapy doesn't always help kids talk. It won't always remove problem behaviors. And it isn’t a foolproof way to help your child improve in school.
I'm a Music Therapist, so why would I say this? Because I'm being completely honest.
What Music Therapy Will NOT Do
Music Therapy doesn't cure cancer. It doesn't take away mental illness. And it won't reverse the effects of Parkinson's disease.
When I graduated with my Bachelor's Degree in Music Therapy I felt 100% ready to take on the world. I was so excited about what I learned and I felt like music could do anything--it was unstoppable and unmatched. I could bring it to any client and see magic take place immediately!
I was in for a major reality check.
Because guess what? There is no magic pill.
There is no one therapy that will cure all ailments both mental and physical. And while music therapy surely has a strong and unique place in the world of therapy, it will not solve every problem.
Just like certain medications don't affect everyone the same way, the "medicine" of music brings about varied results and is most assuredly not a cure-all.
What Music Therapy WILL Do
But do you want to know what it will do? It WILL discover what is hidden under the surface and waiting to break free. It WILL help clients to to express themselves, discover strengths, and find their voice
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It will make your life easier because you will develop the inner strength to cope with life's challenges.
And isn’t that what we all need?
Every person wants to feel strong, loved, have something to contribute, and discover meaningful strengths. No matter your ailment, a music therapist can bring all of that out in the most profound and beautiful ways.
In music therapy, clients will heal old wounds, develop insight, and decrease stress. Children can improve communication, improve behavior, and develop social skills.
It's just that throughout the process they experience strength, creativity, and wholeness that helps those visible rewards of speaking, social skills, emotional healing come to the surface.
Healing from the Inside Out
Really, it's about healing from the inside out, and by "inside" I mean discovering and celebrating the real you--not just a person who is defined by a label or diagnosis, but a person who is real, vibrant, and ready to achieve!
Our goal in music therapy isn’t to “fix” you. It’s to give you a voice and an opportunity to succeed.
So no, we do not cure cancer, but we can help someone with cancer feel hope and realize what they have to contribute.
We don't always take away problem behaviors, but we can help a child with difficult behaviors learn to express themselves and feel that they have something of value to offer.
And we won't be able to help someone learn to speak, but we can give them a voice. It's called music.
So if you are looking for a cure all to “fix” what is "wrong" with you, music therapy is not for you.
But if you are looking to discover what is hidden under the surface, deepen the human experience, and open an unfathomable world of creativity and esteem, then music therapy is the way to go.
We don’t “fix” our clients.
We discover. They unleash. We create.
And together, we make beautiful music.
But don't just take our word for it.
