Music therapy is the scientific use of music interventions within a therapeutic relationship towards observable or measurable functional, educational, rehabilitative or well-being outcomes by a credentialed professional.
Association for Music Therapy (Singapore)
Music Therapy
What exactly is music therapy? It appears that if you ask different music therapists to explain the work they do, you will never get two answers that are the same.
It is precisely because of the wide spectrum of therapy services that music therapists can offer depending on the client population that they serve and the framework that they work in that makes one music therapy session look entirely different from another even though the sessions all utilise the modality of music. This difficulty in articulating our work that often adds to the feeling of mystique of the work with do.
Music therapists can work across the continuum of health with a range of populations from cradle to grave, using the therapeutic medium of music. As such, music therapists could work on very different goals from neurorehabilitation, sensorimotor goals, to that relating to psychosocial goals. Added to the complexity is also the approach, depending on whether they work using the premise of “music as therapy” or “music in therapy”, a music therapy session would look very different even though the different music therapists could be working on the same goal. Perhaps such is also the beauty of creative arts therapists – but it also makes an academic exercise in defining it difficult.
In general, Music Therapy generally involves three relationships between the music, client and music therapist with the client and therapist dynamically interacting around the client’s preferred music towards therapeutic outcomes.
Music Psychotherapy
Music psychotherapy is a form of music therapy whereby music is used within a therapist-client relationship to foster clients’ emotional, psychological and spiritual growth and healing through the use of music within a therapist-client relationship. It usually involves the use of instrumental and vocal improvisation, singing, songwriting, listening to recorded music and talk therapy. Vocal Psychotherapy and Guided Imagery and Music are examples of advanced music psychotherapy practices. Clients are not expected to have prior musical experience to participate in music therapy.
Vocal Psychotherapy
Vocal Psychotherapy is the use of the breath, natural sounds, vocal improvisation, songs and dialogue within a client and therapist relationship to facilitate intrapsychic and interpersonal change and growth. It combines the ideas and theories of depth psychology with the practice of vocal music therapy. This model includes vocal holding techniques©, free associative singing© and other techniques for accessing conscious and unconscious feelings, memories and associations. This is an option for anyone who is curious in exploring issues on self regardless of background or relationship with voice.
What does a Vocal Psychotherapy session look like
The client and therapist engage in verbal dialogue to determine a focus or theme for exploration. This theme will be explored vocally through a song or chant or vocal improvisations, including the improvised techniques known as vocal holding and free associative singing.
The therapist will support the client vocally and structure the musical exploration, through accompanying the client's singing with their own voice as well as another instrument. Typically, when the voice is used, Images, sensations, or emotions that are not in conscious awareness become accessible. They can then become a conscious part of the therapy process.
The therapist and the client will then verbally process the experience together after the exploration.
For more information on Vocal Psychotherapy, visit the website of the creator of the approach: www.dianeaustin.com
Eta Lauw (Left) with the founder of Vocal Psychotherapy, Dr Diane Austin (Right) in a Free Associative Singing session together
Guided Imagery and Music (GIM)
The Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music (GIM) is a music-centered, consciousness-expanding therapy developed by Helen Bonny. Therapists trained in the Bonny Method choose instrumental or classical music sequences that stimulate journeys of the imagination. Experiencing imagery in this way facilitates clients’ integration of mental, emotional, physical and spiritual aspects of well-being.
A individual GIM session involves the client listening to a 30 - 45 minute programme of classical music in a relaxed state, eyes closed, lying down. The client's imagery experience emerges as a manifestation of his or her inner process as this unfolds in response to the music. The therapist's (or guide's) role is to support the unfolding of the imagery in a non-directive way.
What does a Guided Imagery and Music session look like
A classic individual GIM session lasts about 1.5 to 2 hours and consists of four parts:
Prelude
This is a verbal discussion to prepare for the 'music travel'. The therapist finds out how the client is feeling and the issues that they would like to focus on in the session.
Relaxation induction
The therapist brings the client into a relaxed state through a verbal progressive body relaxation induction to the client who is lying down, eyes closed on a couch or a mat. The therapist will then encourage the client to "let the music take you where you need to go".
Music travel
The client listens to the music programme (specially selected by the therapist to help the client explore their feelings and issues) in this relaxed state. The client reports on the images that they experience during the travel. These images may take the form of visual images, or could be sensational (feelings of goosebumps, limbs becoming heavier), movements, insights or feelings. The therapist also helps to support the unfolding of the imagery experience through questions. The therapist writes down what the client says (the transcript). After the music has finished clients usually need a few minutes to 'return' to the room.
Postlude
This typically involves a short creative expression through making a mandala to ground the client after the ‘music travel’. Sometimes, other creative explorations such as music making, poetry, sandplay, clay modelling may be involved. The client and therapist will then discuss the 'music travel' and the mandala and what the client felt was most important about it. They discuss how the client may be able to take the experience and any insights gained into everyday life.
GIM can be effective in 6 - 10 sessions, as well as in longer term work. The method can also be modified and integrated with other approaches such as Music and Imagery (MI), or group GIM.