2015-08-21
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Music therapy is an interpersonal process in which the therapist uses music and all of its facets – physical, emotional, mental, social, aesthetic, and spiritual
– to help clients to improve or maintain their health.
In some instances, the client's needs are addressed directly through music; in others they are addressed through the relationships that develop between the client and therapist.
It is also used to: improve learning, build self-esteem, reduce stress, support physical exercise, and facilitate a host of other health-related activities.
Music therapy is used with individuals of all ages and with a variety of conditions, including:
− psychiatric disorders;
− medical problems;
− physical handicaps;
− sensory impairments;
− developmental disabilities;
− substance abuse;
− communication disorders;
− interpersonal problems;
− aging.
Music therapy interventions can be designed to:
− promote wellness;
− manage stress;
− alleviate pain;
− express feelings;
− enhance memory;
− improve communication;
− promote physical rehabilitation.
Research has shown that music has a profound effect on your body and psyche. In fact, there’s a growing field of health care known as Music Therapy, which uses music to heal. Those who practice music therapy are finding a benefit in using music to help cancer patients, children with ADD, and others, and even hospitals are beginning to use music and music therapy to help with pain management, to help ward off depression, to promote movement, to calm patients, to ease muscle tension, and for many other benefits that music and music therapy can bring. This is not surprising, as music affects the body and mind in many powerful ways. The following are some of effects of music, which help to explain the effectiveness of music therapy:
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• Brain Waves. Research has shown that music with a strong beat can stimulate brainwaves to resonate in sync with the beat, with faster beats bringing sharper concentration and more alert thinking, and a slower tempo promoting a calm, meditative state.
• Breathing and Heart Rate. With alterations in brainwaves comes changes in other bodily functions. Those governed by the autonomic nervous system, such as breathing and heart rate can also be altered by the changes music can bring. This can mean slower breathing, slower heart rate, and an activation of the relaxation response, among other things. This is why music and music therapy can help counteract or prevent the damaging effects of chronic stress, greatly promoting not only relaxation, but health.
• State of Mind. Music can also be used to bring a more positive state of mind, helping to keep depression and anxiety at bay. This can help prevent the stress response from wreaking havoc on the body, and can help keep creativity and optimism levels higher, bringing many other benefits.
• Other Benefits. Music has also been found to bring many other benefits, such as lowering blood pressure (which can also reduce the risk of stroke and other health problems over time), boost immunity, ease muscle tension, and more.
With so many benefits and such profound physical effects, it’s no surprise that so many are seeing music as an important tool to help the body in staying (or becoming) healthy.
Anxious, Depressed and Pregnant? Try Music Therapy.
Many women who are Mothers can describe the highs and lows associated with that magical, but challenging time. While some Mothers accept their baby blues as a time that will pass, other Mothers need treatments for coping. Rather than just predominately popping pills, which can be a dubious act while with child, you may want to try music therapy. While music therapy has been associated with the mitigation of stress, chronic pain, mood change and even back pain, Professor Chung-Hey Chen, among others, of the National Cheng Kung University of China who conducted the study, have found that “the music group [of pregnant women] showed significant reductions in stress, anxiety and depression after just two weeks, using three established measurement scales.” These scales showed drops in stress (an average of 2.15), anxiety (2.13) and depression (an average of 1.84) using lullabies and classical, Chinese and natural sounds music for at least 30 minutes a day for two weeks. Chen adds, “The value of music therapy is slowly being realized by nurses in a number of clinical settings, and we hope that our findings will encourage healthcare professionals to consider it when treating pregnant women.” So even if you aren't pregnant, you may want to make time for that favorite CD; after all, it is very likely that it is adding to your good health.”
Exercise 1. Find the equivalents to the following words and expressions in the text:
Зниження рівня стресу, тривожність, шкала виміру, колискові пісні, надихнути, міжособистісні проблеми, проблеми в спілкуванні, фізичний розлад, поліпшувати здоров’я, поліпшувати пам’ять, фізична реабілітація.
Exercise 2. Prepare a presentation of some alternative method of treating diseases.
VII. Plague of the 21st century
