About Music Therapy

What is a Music Therapist?

A Registered Music Therapist (RMT):

• Has completed a Masters of Music Therapy degree
• Is registered with the Australian Music Therapy Association (AMTA)
• Abides by the AMTA’s Code of Ethics
• Completes ongoing professional development

RMTs, unlike music teachers or performers, use music as a tool to:

• Address participants’ developmental, social, emotional, physical, and physiological goals
• Occasionally address musical goals, like learning to play an instrument, when the benefits would be useful to improve a non-musical aspect of someone’s health, functioning, and well-being
• Collaborate with individuals and families to achieve their goals by activating and changing neurological pathways. Human brains are activated in multiple areas across both sides of the brain when exposed to music

What can Music Therapy Do?

Music therapy can facilitate change in, among other areas:

• Social skills
• Pain management
• Executive functioning
• Speech and communication
• Mental health and wellbeing
• Emotional understanding and response
• Memory, attention, cognitive functioning
• Motor skills, movement, coordination, and physical function

What Does a Music Therapy Session Look Like?

The music therapy session can look structured, playful, calm, or even chaotic! It depends on the participant, the program, the mood of the participant on the day, and other factors.

The music therapy space is not a classroom, and the therapist is not a teacher. Children and adults come to music therapy to address goals around a developmental delay, behavioural issues, emotional regulation, trauma, mental health, etc. The therapist needs to be able to see how these areas of need present in real life, to help support growth and change.

This can be hard for parents and carers who are used to their child being expected to pay attention, sit still, etc. It can also be confronting and confusing for adults who are used to certain social expectations in terms of communication and emotional regulation.

In summary, this means:

It’s okay if you or your child is not playing, or is playing ‘incorrectly’.

The music therapist is usually looking for something else that doesn’t require good technique or assessing your or your child’s ability to play. The therapist will help play technique if required.

It’s okay if you or your child is not showing ‘good’ or ‘acceptable’ behaviour.

The role of the music therapist is to meet you or your child’s mood and work within an environment that is safe to address the goals. If you or your child is exhibiting behaviours that may be perceived as ‘negative’, they might not be feeling safe or in control. It is up to the therapist to adjust their behaviour to help you or your child want to exhibit feelings of safety, not the other way around.

How to Support the Music Therapy Process

Following the below recommendations will help the participant get the most out of their music therapy program:

• Support the participant to attend the session independently, unless invited in by the therapist or participant for collaborative work or feelings of safety
• Follow the music therapist’s lead and any instructions when in a session
• Refrain from correcting behaviour or musical technique
• Be open to receiving information, resources, suggestions, and recommendations from the therapist

Who Can Benefit from Music Therapy?

Central Queensland Music Therapy provides services for:

• All Age Demographics (Early Childhood, Children, Adolescents, Adults, Older Adults)
• Neurodivergence (e.g. ASD & ADHD)
• Physical and Intellectual Disabilities
• Mental Health Concerns (Psychosocial Disabilities)
• Trauma (e.g. Birth Trauma, Survivors of DV, Veterans)
• Various Funding Sources (e.g. NDIS, My Aged Care, Private Funding)
• Executive Coaching

Music therapy can help support people of any age who might be experiencing challenges (including mental, intellectual, physical, emotional or social) or wishing to improve their well-being.

Multidisciplinary Work

Music therapists can work closely with your family, carers and other health professionals such as:

• Occupational therapists
• Speech pathologists
• Physiotherapists
• Psychologists
• Neurologists
• Psychiatrists
• Doctors

Further Information

Please visit the Australian Music Therapy Association website for more information on:

• Who music therapy can help
• How music therapy can help
• Where music therapy is used
• What happens in the music therapy session
• Music therapy vs music education and entertainment

Other organisations associated with the work of a registered music therapist:

• National Alliance of Self Regulating Health Professionals
• National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)
• The Academy of Neurologic Music Therapy
• Australian DBT Institute
• Sing and Grow Australia
• Carers QLD
• BUSHkids