MUSIC THERAPY
Music has a unique way of reaching and connecting with people, as well as having significant and profound impact on the brain. There is a large body of music and neuroscience evidence which outlines the effect of music on the brain and it’s ability to optimize, re-route and repair neural connections. This makes it an excellent tool for supporting people to develop, maintain, or regain function as well as achieving health and wellbeing.
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A Music Therapist uses the planned use of music along with a therapeutic relationship to address identified communicative, physical, psychological, cognitive, and social needs of an individual.
Music Therapy is strengths based practice, which means our therapists focus on creating opportunities to celebrate who people are and developing what they bring to the therapy space. Regardless of ability, everyone can appreciate and respond to music and sound. We use the expressive elements of music as the primary means of interaction between therapist and client.
“We believe that people will thrive when engaged in significant and meaningful connections through music.”
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Music Therapy is an Allied Health profession like Physiotherapists and Speech Language Therapists and we work collaboratively with them to get the best results for our clients.
All our therapists are registered with the New Zealand Music Therapy Registration Board.
WHO DO WE WORK WITH
We work with clients across the lifespan, from the young to the young at heart. Most humans have a natural connection to music; it is a universal language so it does not require words.
Our Music therapists work in an individualized and flexible way to provide a safe musical
space for our clients to celebrate their uniqueness.
Our Registered Music Therapists at SMT are experience working with:
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ï‚· Neurological Rehabilitation - Stroke, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
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ï‚· Neurodegenerative diseases like Multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer's.
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ï‚· Palliative Care
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ï‚· Therapeutic Choirs
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ï‚· Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder
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ï‚· Individuals with Intellectual Disability
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ï‚· People with Mental Health needs
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ï‚· People who have experienced Abuse, Neglect, Trauma and Greif
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ï‚· People with Communication Issues like Aphasia and Apraxia
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People with limited physical movement
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ï‚· Children with Developmental Delay, or Undiagnosed
WHAT DO WE WORK ON
Individual and group sessions are developed so that each client has individualized goals. We work collaboratively with the client and their whanau and team of supporters.
Music Therapy is effective in:
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Developing and supporting verbal and non-verbal communication
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Identifying and nurturing abilities
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Providing opportunities to develop independence
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Facilitating self-expression and enhancing identity
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Reducing anxiety, improving self-regulation and building confidence
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Creating opportunities to develop meaningful relationships
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Providing opportunities for new experiences
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Supporting people in times of loss and grief
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Maintaining function skills
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Extending movement and physical co-ordination
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Assisting memory and cognitive processing
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Improving engagement and motivation to participate
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To bring joy, and decrease isolation
NEUROLOGIC MUSIC THERAPY
Neurologic Music Therapy (NMT) is the therapeutic application of music to cognitive, sensory, and motor dysfunctions due to neurologic disease of the human nervous system (Thaut, 2005). Neurologic Music Therapists are qualified music therapists who have completed extra training in NMT. Our Neurologic Music Therapists apply neuroscience and music perception and production research to when working with people with Aphaisa, Apraxia of speech, motor movement, and with people with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
WHAT QUALIFICATIONS DO YOU NEED TO PRACTICE AS A MUSIC THERAPISTS?
ALL our therapists have a Masters qualification in Music Therapy.
They are registered with the New Zealand Music Therapy Registration Board, and abide by their code of Ethics and Standards of Practice.
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Music Therapy is an Allied Health Profession (along with Speech Language Therapists, Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists) and we work collaboratively with these disciplines.
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Our Neurologic Music Therapists are qualified music therapists who have also completed extra training in NMT.
