| It’s Music Therapy Month – learn how music is therapeutic in supporting development, health and well-being. | http://www.vch.ca/about-us/news/it’s-music-therapy-month-–-learn-how-music-is-therapeutic-in-supporting-development-health-and-well-being | It’s Music Therapy Month – learn how music is therapeutic in supporting development, health and well-being. | | | | <p class="phsa-rteElement-Paragraph">March is Music Therapy Awareness Month! Music therapy is a discipline in which credentialed professionals use music purposefully within therapeutic relationships to support development, health, and well-being. Music therapists use music safely and ethically to address human needs within cognitive, communicative, emotional, musical, physical, social, and spiritual domains.<br></p><h2 class="phsa-rteElement-Header2">Finding inspiration with every session<br></h2><p class="phsa-rteElement-Paragraph">We recently caught up with Brendan, a music therapist at Minoru Residence in Richmond, to gain a better understanding of his passion for the role. “What I enjoy most is the actual clinical contact I get with the residents," he says. “As music therapists, we are trained to work with the strengths of each person and that everyone has something to offer. I am constantly working on reaching and supporting this ideal in each person I work with."</p><p class="phsa-rteElement-Paragraph">It is inspirational for Brendan when he can see through the process of a music therapy session that had a significant, positive change in the groups' overall affect. “They have gone from withdrawal and indifferent to fully engaged and interested in what is happening."<br></p><p class="phsa-rteElement-Paragraph">While Music therapists mostly work alone in units and facilities, Brendan says he keeps up with his learnings and opportunities by staying in touch with other music therapists. “We get together informally from time to time to share information and learnings," he says. “In my position I am always looking for opportunities to improve the work that I offer to the residents at Minoru."<br></p><h2 class="phsa-rteElement-Header2">What does it take to become a Music Therapist?<br></h2><p class="phsa-rteElement-Paragraph">In Canada, certified music therapists complete a bachelor's or master's degree at a university approved by the Canadian Association for Music Therapists. The degree can include competencies like improvisation, group leadership, counselling skills, musical abilities on a variety of instruments, theories and models of music therapy, creative arts, assessment, and practicum experiences. The degree is followed by a 1,000-hour internship, which usually takes six months full time.<br></p> | <img alt="" src="/PublishingImages/_RXL2654.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> |
