Published on: 01/03/21
World Music Therapy Day is run by the World Federation of Music Therapy and this year a photo competition has been held so pictures of music therapy will be seen across the world and help increase understanding of the role of music therapists.
Claire Wood, Lead Music Therapist (Neurorehabilitation) at The Children’s Trust, tells us more about the profession:
“Music therapists are healthcare professionals; we use music to help support individuals with physical and emotional needs.
“Using music and sound creatively helps us establish and develop a relationship with a child or young person. And over time, as the relationship develops, we identify the child’s developmental and emotional needs, then tailor therapy specifically for that child.
“Music therapy was a fantastic motivator for Nieve. She chose songs that expressed how she was feeling and that were motivating in her recovery."
“Music therapy not only helps children express themselves but it can also help them interact, develop their physical ability and help with self-esteem and motivation.”
At The Children’s Trust, staff in the music therapy rehab team are also trained in Neurologic Music Therapy (NMT). These evidence-based techniques are used at The Children’s Trust to help children and young people reach their goals during rehabilitation.
NMT techniques were used in Nieve’s rehabilitation following a traffic accident in 2018, when she was 12 years old.
Dad Rob explains how music therapy helped Nieve in her recovery: “Music therapy was a fantastic motivator for Nieve.
“She chose songs that expressed how she was feeling and that were motivating in her recovery. She was motivated by a desire to get her voice back as it sounded before her injury.
“When Nieve first arrived at The Children’s Trust she would write down what she wanted to say, but by the time she left we could understand 90% of what Nieve was saying.”
Click to read more about music therapy and Nieve’s story.
