93% of American citizens listen to music according to Music 360 2014. With, on average, 25 hours per week devoted to this activity, does it have any alternate uses other than for pure enjoyment? The answer is yes, with music therapy. “Music Therapy is the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional who has completed an approved music therapy program.” (American Music Therapy Association). Music therapy is not just listening to music. It may involve, listening, creating, singing, and/or dancing. According to the American Music Therapy Association, Music therapy is an alternative to traditional healing techniques, and it can be used
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Focusing on distracting the patient, calming the patient, and changing the patient 's mood, this technique often will show to have a positive outcome (AMTA). Pain is not the only problem faced when in the healing process. “Dr. Suzanne Hanser, founding chair of the Berklee music therapy department, says music therapy, by calming patients, can positively affect heart rate, blood pressure, and vital signs” (Ducharme). How this works is the patient becomes mentally calm through music, psychologically affecting them, resulting in a positive outcome on one’s body (AMTA). Childbirth has been shown to be one of the most painful occurrences a woman can endure. A woman is already dealing with the stress of bringing life into the world, and, on top of that, she is in the worst pain she may have ever been in. According to a personal story provided by AMTA, or American Music Therapy Association, music therapy has been used to assist childbirth. Doctors Hanser, Larson, and O’Connell studied the effects on music therapy in relaxing and reducing pain in childbirth. “[They] used music to cue rhythmic breathing, assist the mothers in relaxation, prompt positive associations, and help focus attention on the music as a diversion from pain and hospital sounds”(Hanser). Seven women were used for this study. Prior to the birth, each woman had two sessions with the music therapist to find which music the …show more content…
Almost everyone can say that they have felt stressed at one point in time. Music cannot solve stress, however it can help one calm down and to accomplish tasks that one may feel stressed about. “As music can absorb our attention, it acts as a distraction at the same time it helps to explore emotions. This means it can be a great aid to meditation, helping to prevent the mind wandering” (Collingwood). Music can help one clear one’s mind and concentrate on what one needs to (Collingwood). “Because music has the potential to influence us both psychologically and physiologically, it is an important area of therapy for stress management. Music therapy can make use of biofeedback, guided imagery, and other established techniques to play an important role in the treatment of people with stress-related disorders” (Collingwood). To solve stress, music therapists use music therapy to calm the patient and also make them become aware of their emotions
Focusing on distracting the patient, calming the patient, and changing the patient 's mood, this technique often will show to have a positive outcome (AMTA). Pain is not the only problem faced when in the healing process. “Dr. Suzanne Hanser, founding chair of the Berklee music therapy department, says music therapy, by calming patients, can positively affect heart rate, blood pressure, and vital signs” (Ducharme). How this works is the patient becomes mentally calm through music, psychologically affecting them, resulting in a positive outcome on one’s body (AMTA). Childbirth has been shown to be one of the most painful occurrences a woman can endure. A woman is already dealing with the stress of bringing life into the world, and, on top of that, she is in the worst pain she may have ever been in. According to a personal story provided by AMTA, or American Music Therapy Association, music therapy has been used to assist childbirth. Doctors Hanser, Larson, and O’Connell studied the effects on music therapy in relaxing and reducing pain in childbirth. “[They] used music to cue rhythmic breathing, assist the mothers in relaxation, prompt positive associations, and help focus attention on the music as a diversion from pain and hospital sounds”(Hanser). Seven women were used for this study. Prior to the birth, each woman had two sessions with the music therapist to find which music the …show more content…
Almost everyone can say that they have felt stressed at one point in time. Music cannot solve stress, however it can help one calm down and to accomplish tasks that one may feel stressed about. “As music can absorb our attention, it acts as a distraction at the same time it helps to explore emotions. This means it can be a great aid to meditation, helping to prevent the mind wandering” (Collingwood). Music can help one clear one’s mind and concentrate on what one needs to (Collingwood). “Because music has the potential to influence us both psychologically and physiologically, it is an important area of therapy for stress management. Music therapy can make use of biofeedback, guided imagery, and other established techniques to play an important role in the treatment of people with stress-related disorders” (Collingwood). To solve stress, music therapists use music therapy to calm the patient and also make them become aware of their emotions