What is Music Therapy?

Music therapy is an established health care profession that uses music to support a patient’s therapeutic goals. Our board-certified music therapists (MT-BC) use evidence-based music interventions to address physical, emotional, cognitive and social needs for individuals of all ages. Music therapy interventions are tailored specifically for each patient and family.

From supporting patients during procedures to fostering opportunities for self-expression, music therapy can help patients and families cope with hospitalization. Music Therapists work with members of the patient’s multidisciplinary health care team to deliver patient- and family-centered care.

Some of the goals we may work on with our pediatric patients and families include:

  • Pain management
  • Reducing stress and anxiety
  • Managing nausea and discomfort
  • Providing support before, during or after medical procedures
  • Normalizing the hospital environment
  • Promoting opportunities for socialization and interaction with others
  • Providing opportunities for emotional expression
  • Promoting positive means for coping
  • Facilitating rehabilitation
  • Providing opportunities for bonding between patients and families
  • Increasing relaxation and decreasing agitation
  • Improving quality of life
  • Creating opportunities for legacy building
  • Providing comforting care

NICU Music Therapy

Music therapy services are also provided in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Our Music Therapists have specialized training in working to address the medical and developmental goals of premature infants and their families.

We provide evidence-based clinical services to infants and families and use music therapy interventions to:

  • Reduce stress
  • Promote neurological growth and development
  • Tolerate and process stimulation
  • Improve feeding through development of non-nutritive sucking
  • Improve physiological and behavioral states
  • Support infant–parent bonding
  • Educate parents on appropriate music selections

Our Services

Music Therapy sessions may be active (the child engages in playing instruments, singing, or creating musical projects) or passive (the child may listen to preferred music). MT-BC’s use evidence based interventions like active music making, improvisation, therapeutic songwriting, lyric analysis and music assisted relaxation to work towards a patient’s individualized goals. Music Therapy sessions may be offered 1:1 or in a group setting.

Music therapy is currently offered on a referral basis in:

Once a referral has been placed by a member of the interdisciplinary team, a music therapist will assess and provide therapy services based on the patient’s needs.

Who are Music Therapists?

Music Therapists:

  • Hold a bachelor’s degree or higher from an approved college or university. Their studies are focused in three main areas: musical foundations, clinical foundations and music therapy foundations.
  • Must complete and pass a clinical internship of at least 1,200 hours prior to graduation.
  • Successfully pass a Board Exam administered by the Certification Board for Music Therapists to receive the credential MT-BC, Music Therapist Board Certified. Music Therapists adhere to specific standards for clinical interventions and ethical conduct in continued professional practice.