Published on: 01/03/20
Today, 1 March, is World Music Therapy Day. Music therapists are healthcare professionals who use music to help support individuals with physical and emotional needs.
Music therapy has been practised in the UK for nearly 60 years. For the last 10 years, practitioners have been required to be registered with the Health Professions Council.
Music therapists work in a variety of settings including schools, hospitals, care homes, day centres, community settings, workplaces and within the prison service.
What is music therapy?
Music therapy is a process in which music and sound are used creatively to establish and develop a relationship with a child or young person. As the relationship grows, the therapist identifies the child’s developmental and emotional needs and directs the therapy accordingly.
Music therapy offers a safe and supportive environment in which feelings can be experienced and shared. A flexible approach ensures sensitivity to the unique personality and needs of each individual.
Along with the therapeutic relationship and an outlet for emotional expression, music therapy can offer an opportunity for the development of interactive skills, physical and perceptual ability, as well as a positive experience of self, which can promote self-esteem and motivation.
The Children’s Trust, the UK’s leading charity for children with brain injury, is looking forward to celebrating World Music Therapy Day in the coming week, exploring music-making with children and young people at our specialist centre in Surrey. Find out more about World Music Therapy Day and what’s happening all over the world here.
