Medical Music has the power to heal the soul

Medical

Service Overview

CATPB’s medical music therapy program focuses on caring for the “whole patient” by addressing a patient’s physical, emotional, psychological, cognitive, neurological and spiritual needs. Music therapy sessions can vary in length and frequency depending on the needs of the patient.  The music therapist can be scheduled for individual sessions at inpatient units, long-term/rehabilitative care facilities or outpatient units.  Patients’ will be seen on a referral basis according to their needs and medical goals.  Referrals can be completed by any member of the patients’ medical care team.

Music provides a non-threatening and familiar presence at an unfamiliar and uncomfortable time.  The music therapist can be a valuable member of the interdisciplinary medical team in building rapport with patients, facilitating a positive, meaningful experience for the patient and their family, helping promote wellness, and enhancing the quality of life.

Medical Music Therapy Goals

to reduce the perception of pain to increase communication
to reduce stress to build rapport with the treatment team
to increase relaxation to provide comfort
to reduce blood pressure to provide spiritual support
to reduce heart rate to increase normalization
to regulate breathing patterns to increase self-esteem
to assist in physical rehabilitation to address emotional needs
to facilitate reminiscence to increase social interaction
to increase reality orientation to increase quality of life

Medical Music Therapy Techniques

Songwriting Lyric Analysis of Songs Music for Reminiscence
Music for Relaxation Rhythm Interventions Music and Imagery
Passive Music Listening Music and Movement Singing Familiar Music

“Lifesong” Legacy Projects: This intervention is for children or adults with a terminal illness. The music therapist assists the patient in creating a song to dedicate to their loved ones. “Lifesong” Legacy Projects may also include photos, recorded spoken messages, or other music chosen by the patient. These projects allow the patient to create, control, and contribute, when in many areas of their life they have no control. “Lifesong” Legacy Projects can be a valuable gift for patients and their families, and assist in coping with issues related to end-of-life care.

“Lifesong” Philosophy: The term “Lifesong” embodies the idea that everyone has a song, and wants to be heard. It also refers to the way music reaches people, no matter what age, stage of life, or illness they are dealing with. Each person relates to music in their own way and music therapy allows that music to play a role in their healing. The overall goal of our medical music therapy program is to help our patients experience wellness and increased quality of life.