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  • About Music Therapy
    • Questions About Music Therapy
    • Why Should I Try Music Therapy?
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    • Melissa Spiess, M.M., MT-BC Neurologic Music Therapy Fellow
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Music Therapy and Autism

What is Music Therapy?

Music therapy is an evidence-based allied health service similar to physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech-language pathology that uses music as the therapeutic tool to address physical, cognitive, social, emotional, psychological, spiritual, and/or behavior needs.

Why Should I Try Music Therapy?

  • Due to the motivational factors provided by music and the brain and body’s response to music, music therapists can often gain unique outcomes.
  • Research suggests that music is processed more successfully and more efficiently than speech in individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Music can be a powerful motivator and a positive way to structure interaction and to encourage communication and expression for individuals with ASD.
  • Music provides concrete, multi-sensory stimulation (visual, tactile, auditory, proprioceptive, vestibular), which can help to engage individuals with ASD and help them address sensory issues.
  • Music is processed in both hemispheres of the brain, helping to remediate some speech and language skills and improve cognitive functioning.
  • Movement in music and instrument playing can improve fine and gross motor skills, strength, and endurance.
  • Music therapy provides opportunities for successful experiences by focusing on how strengths can be used to address each individual’s specific needs.

Client Benefits from Music Therapy

Communication/Social Skills

  • Help develop verbal communication, speech and language skills
  • Increase appropriate social interaction such as joint-attention and turn-taking
  • Stimulate speech
  • Improve speech articulation
  • Improve expressive and receptive communication
  • Facilitate inclusion
  • Encourage verbal and nonverbal social interaction
  • Structure positive social interaction and decrease isolation

Cognitive

  • Improve sustained, selective, alternating, and divided attention
  • Improve executive function skills such as organization, problem-solving, decision-making skills, reasoning, and comprehension
  • Improve management of cognitive processes, such as working memory and planning
  • Improve short- and long-term memory and recall
  • Help develop academic skills

Behaviors (Repetitive/Stereotypic)

  • Help to reinforce desired responses
  • Help reduce negative and/or self-stimulatory responses
  • Encourage to attempt new tasks
  • Improve inattentive behaviors such as restlessness, noisiness, and aggression

Physical/Sensorimotor

  • Enhance auditory processing and other sensory-motor, perceptual/motor, gross and fine motor skills
  • Improve motor coordination
  • Improve laterality (side-to-side movement) and directionality (up/down, right/left, back/forth movement)
  • Help learn to tolerate and integrate auditory, visual, and tactile stimuli

Emotional Regulation

  • Improve ability to identify and appropriately express emotions
  • Provide structure and sense of security
  • Increase self-esteem
  • Improve mood control and affective expression
  • Decrease stress and anxiety
  • Provide an outlet for safe self-expression

How Do I Know if Someone is Qualified to Provide Music Therapy Services?

  • Qualified music therapists carry the credential MT-BC indicating that they have passed the national, independent certification board exam and have maintained awareness of current practice through continuing education or retesting. DO NOT work with anyone claiming to be a music therapist without the MT-BC designation.
  • To confirm MT-BC status go to: http://www.cbmt.org/certificant_search

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Music Therapy Resources

Board Certification

  • American Music Therapy Association
  • Certification Board for Music Therapy
  • Academy of Neurologic Music Therapy

Downloads

  • Music Therapy-Referral-Form
  • Music-Therapy-Referral-Candidates
  • MT for Parkinson’s Disease
  • MT for Stroke Rehabilitation
  • MT for Seniors
  • MT in Hospice & Palliative Care Trifold Brochure
  • MT for Autism
  • MT for Developmental Disabilities
  • MT for Children with Special Needs
  • MT & Mental Health
  • MT for Wellness
  • Legacy Gifts and Digital Services
  • Candidates for Music Therapy

Start Music Therapy

Whimsical music notes on a staff

How Do I Begin Music Therapy Services?

If you would like to find out more about how music therapy may help your loved one or to begin music therapy services, please contact:

Melissa Spiess, M.M., MT-BC
Neurologic Music Therapy Fellow
melissa@livingspirittherapy.com
651-363-3936

If you know you would like to initiate music therapy services please download, print, and complete the referral form.

Download Form

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All Living Spirit Therapy Services, LLC employees are credentialed through the Certification Board for Music Therapists.

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Contact Us

Melissa Spiess, M.M., MT-BC

Neurologic Music Therapist
melissa@livingspirittherapy.com
651-363-3936

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