Individual Music Therapy
During individual music therapy, the focus is on the unique client, their particular needs, abilities, interests, and life challenges, emphasising the relationship between the client, the therapist and the music. The therapy process is personalised to each client, taking into consideration their age, resources, and strengths, to achieve the individual’s therapeutic goals and provide the best opportunities for growth. The person’s overall development and improvements in well-being and quality of life are central aims.
Benefits:
- Enhancing the Client’s Quality of Life
- Promoting Feelings of Well-being
- Experiencing Fun & Satisfaction
- Stimulation & Activation
- Increasing the Person’s Sense of Self-worth & Self-esteem
- Improving Perception Skills & Personal Awareness
- Discovering one’s Strengths & Weaknesses
- Expression of & Dealing with Emotions & Experiencing Mood Changes
- Changing & Increasing Communication, Speech & Language Skills
- Training & Maintaining Cognitive, Emotional, Physical & Social Abilities
- Enhancing Listening & Attention Skills
- Behaviour Management
- Supporting Pain Management
- Reducing Anxiety & Stress
- Reducing Social Isolation
- Learning Recreation & Leisure Skills
- Learning & Maintaining Musical Skills
- Supporting the Client in Current Living/Life Situation – Learning Coping Strategies
Individual music therapy may be the best approach for clients who experience severe mental and/or physical challenges, or are uncomfortable and/or unable to function in a group setting. Individual music therapy services can be delivered in a client’s home if required.
After an initial assessment, the unique music therapeutic treatment plan and goals are developed in conjunction with the client. All interventions and music therapeutic activities, such as improvising or drumming, singing and songwriting, dancing or drawing to music, and listening to music, are also tailored to the individual’s goals, needs and interests. The activities are specifically designed to address the person’s individual clinical and learning goals.
The individual music therapy sessions are conducted by a registered music therapist and are generally offered weekly for 50 minutes. All sessions are customised to each client. Sessions may take place in our clinic space in Wentworth Falls, in the person’s home, or at a care facility.
Group Music Therapy
Group music therapy provides the opportunity to connect, relate and interact with others who may experience similar problems, and group members can work, grow, and change together under the music therapist’s encouragement. During group music therapy sessions, the potential of the group and its processes are emphasised – experiencing group as a support network, sounding board, place for sharing problems, and safe learning environment. Social interaction and personal development are central aims of group music therapy.
Benefits:
- Enhancing Personal Skills (i.e, cognitive, emotional, motor & musical)
- Learning & Improving Social Skills, such as sharing, turn-taking, and cooperating
- Changing & Improving Communication
- Increasing Perception Skills & Personal Awareness
- Discovering Personal Strengths & Weaknesses
- Enhancing One’s Self-esteem & Sense of Self-worth
- Behavioural Management
- Expressing & Managing Emotions
- Connecting, Socialising & Interacting
- Improving Well-being & Quality of Life
Group music therapy involves individuals with varying abilities and challenges making and listening to music together to practice specific social, behavioural, communicative, and emotional skills in a well-defined environment. Here, they learn new skills that can be tested within the therapeutic group, then applied to other areas of their lives.
Therapeutic musical interventions such as singing, improvising, dancing, drawing to music, drumming, and songwriting are tailored to the needs, abilities, and interests of the group members. The musical activities are particularly designed to address the specific clinical and learning goals of the group members. Clients are always encouraged to participate actively.
Typically, the learning, supporting, and training processes in group music therapy suit groups of 4-12 members. The group size varies depending on the participants’ needs and abilities. The sessions are offered weekly, last for 60 minutes, and are led by a registered and highly trained music therapist.