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By Sienna H., updated May 2020 — 2 min read —
Mental illness in children and adolescents adds an additional level of stress and difficulty at a key point of development. For many of these young patients, Music Therapy provides relief from their mental health conditions. It offers a calm and non-threatening medium for them to explore their thoughts and feelings. Our mission at Children’s Music Fund includes providing the benefits of Music Therapy for young patients affected by mental illness.
Music Therapy increases communication, socialization and memory in children. Because Music Therapy bridges the gap between art and science, and the artistic nature of the therapy allows children and teenagers to open up and explore their feelings. It also helps them cope with their mental health issues. One of our Music Therapist states,
Teens have difficulty expressing their emotions verbally, and lyrics can help them to find the right words to express and relate to their emotions.
Most adolescents consider music to be an important part of their life. The lyrics resonate with them and help validate their feelings. Music Therapists use the importance of lyrics to help their patients relate and communicate. Sometimes, a patient will write lyrics outlining fears, goals and dreams, then uses the music to process and validate current feelings. Through song writing, patients are able to begin to manage their fear and anxieties.
While the long-term effects of Music Therapy on children and adolescents with mental illnesses still needs to be further validated, the short-term results are promising. Patients are able to communicate through music, process their emotions, feel successful and in control, and take steps towards their recovery. Music has a positive benefit on the mind and body.
Success stories from children and teens that have used Music Therapy as part of their healthcare treatment plan are inspirational. Read some of them posted here from our CMF Kids. If you are in need of additional information on mental health issues in children, talk with your healthcare provider. Resources available online include, but are not limited to, Child Mind Institute (not an endorsement of services provided) and the CDC.
Overview
What is music therapy?
Music therapy is the clinical use of music to accomplish individualized goals such as reducing stress, improving mood and self-expression. It is an evidence-based therapy well-established in the health community. Music therapy experiences may include listening, singing, playing instruments, or composing music. Musical skills or talents are not required to participate.
Music therapy may help you psychologically, emotionally, physically, spiritually, cognitively and socially. A short list of benefits includes:
- Lowering blood pressure.
- Improving memory.
- Enhanced communication and social skills through experiencing music with others.
- Self-reflection. Observing your thoughts and emotions.
- Reducing muscle tension.
- Self-regulation. Developing healthy coping skills to manage your thoughts and emotions.
- Increasing motivation.
- Managing pain.
- Increasing joy.
Formal music therapy was defined and first used by the United States War Department in 1945. It helped military service members recovering in Army hospitals with occupational therapy, education, recreation and physical reconditioning.
Who do music therapists work with?
People of all backgrounds, ages and cultures can respond to music, and to music therapy. Notable groups music therapists have helped include:
- Military service members and veterans. Music therapy helps you cope with trauma.
- People with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Individuals on the spectrum learn best when there is familiarity, structure, predictability and consistency.
- Individuals with Alzheimer’s disease. Music therapy may help with memory and stimulate your mind because of predictability, familiarity and feelings of security.
- People in correctional settings. If you’re incarcerated, in a mental health facility, half-way house or group home, music therapy may help with problem-solving, communication skills, relaxation and decreasing impulsivity.
- Victims of trauma and crisis. If you’ve experienced trauma and crisis, you might have anxiety, stress and pain. Music therapy can help you with decreasing those three experiences, improving your mood, feeling confident and in control and providing a non-verbal outlet for emotions.
- Those who are physically ill. The list includes, but is not limited to people with chronic pain, diabetes, cardiac conditions, cancer, headaches, recent surgery and people in rehab.
- Individuals with mental health disorders. If you’re dealing with a mental health disorder, music therapy can help you with communication and expression, help you explore your thoughts and feelings, improve your mood and concentration and develop coping skills.
- People with chronic pain. Music therapy can help decrease your pain, anxiety, fatigue and depression.
- Substance abusers. Music therapy may help if you have a substance abuse disorder. Research has shown that it can increase motivation and self-esteem, reduce muscle tension, decrease anxiety, improve self-awareness and strengthen coping skills.
Where does music therapy take place?
The most common settings are hospitals, schools, nursing homes, outpatient clinics, mental health centers and residences for individuals with developmental disabilities. Music therapists also go to juvenile detention facilities, schools and private practices.
Is music therapy outpatient or inpatient?
Whether the music therapy is delivered outpatient or inpatient depends on the individual program. You may be able to come in for sessions during the day (just like a counseling appointment), or a music therapist may come to you while you’re admitted into the hospital or at school. Sometimes music therapy is held in groups.
Do music therapists work with children and adolescents?
Yes. Music therapy may help with the following:
- Behavior disorders.
- Mood and anxiety disorders.
- Attention deficit/Hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
- Autism spectrum disorders (ASD).
- Trauma.
- Substance abuse disorders.
At Camber (previously KVC Hospitals), we provide treatment to the youth we serve through a diverse range of experiential therapies and therapeutic techniques, including talk, music, play, horticulture, virtual reality, equine and more. We have found that there are many different therapeutic techniques that can help children cope and open up about their experiences, and giving them new and different ways to do so is important.
No two people are the same, so we implement therapy and treatment plans that are tailored to the unique needs and interests of each individual we work with. The youth we serve are in very influential and vulnerable developmental stages in their lives, making it even more important to find techniques that work best for each of them.
If you know a child struggling with their mental health, we’re here to help. Call us at (913) 890-7468 or fill out
this form.
Music Therapy
Music therapy is an artistic and effective way we connect with the youth in our care. Children and teens who have experienced trauma or toxic stress often struggle to connect through traditional talk therapy. Music offers them a different way to express themselves, talk about difficult experiences, and work through emotions. Music can also provide soothing sounds or beats that help youth regulate their emotions and learn more about their triggers.
At Camber, youth are able to use pianos, guitars, synthesizers, maracas, tambourines, rain sticks, drums, and other musical instruments to express themselves and work with the music therapist to process through difficult emotions. They can even utilize software to record the music they create with our music therapists and are then able to take it with them anywhere they go after they discharge. Resources like this that they can use once they have left our facilities are important tools for continued healing and help them with emotion regulation in their daily lives.
Camber’s Music Therapists
Camber has two amazing Music Therapists who work with the youth at our inpatient hospital and residential treatment center in Kansas City.
Xavier has been a music therapist for four years and has primarily worked with children, teens, and adults receiving mental health treatment. His musical background is based in percussion and saxophone performance. In music therapy, Xavier likes to use each person’s musical preference to help them meet treatment goals through music composition, improvisation, therapeutic singing and playing instruments.
Hillary is a musician and music therapist originally from Saskatchewan, Canada. She moved to Kansas City in 2011 to complete a Masters in Music Performance at UMKC. She then went on to receive a Masters in Music Therapy from the University of Missouri – Kansas City and has clinical experience from the Center for Behavioral Medicine and Ozanam and Gillis Home. In addition to working with the youth at Camber, she also teaches music at Harmony Project KS, is in a band called Fourscore, and teaches yoga. On weekends, she provides free music therapy to youth at the Jackson County Family Court Juvenile Detention Center. Her favorite artists to rock out to include Elton John, Janelle Monáe, Bruno Mars, P!nk and TOOL!
Read the stories below from Xavier and Hillary to see how they use music therapy to connect with clients to help them feel safe and open up about their depression, trauma and other mental health challenges.
Xavier: I was working with an adolescent boy receiving treatment at one of our hospitals. He always verbalized his appreciation of music therapy and said that it helped him cope with the depression he was experiencing and abuse he had experiences that left lasting emotional pain for him. This boy often asked me to play older songs for him to sing along to, like “Take Me Home, Country Roads” by John Denver. He enjoyed singing along and would share memories he was reminded of through these songs. Music therapy was an outlet for him that helped him feel comfortable opening about his abuse and depression. It was very motivating for me to influence his coping and growth through music, which I am so passionate about.
Hillary: One of the music therapy groups I lead is at Camber Kansas City, working with the clients in our adolescent girl’s unit twice a week. I always like to check in with the clients prior to a session to find out the types of music they enjoy and get a feel for the current atmosphere on the unit.
One time, one of the girls mentioned a group called BTS, and when I looked them up, I found out they were a K-Pop (Korean pop) group. This particular client had challenges responding to the self-love activities performed on the unit. She participated, but when asked her thoughts she would say, “I just really don’t care.” I decided to spend more time looking into this favorite group of hers to see if I could find a therapeutic application with their music that would help her engage, develop rapport and begin a healing discussion.
It turns out that BTS discusses numerous difficult topics in their music, such as mental health, the pressure to succeed and female empowerment! After listening to their music and learning more, I discovered they would be a positive influence for the girls and could help encourage therapeutic conversations on topics that can be difficult to talk about. When I told the client that we would be playing BTS, her eyes lit up. Through the course of the first session with BTS, the client opened up about her struggle with depression. Even though the songs were in a different language, we were able to do some great processing by talking through the lyrics and how each client related to them.
Xavier: There was a teenage boy being treated at one of our hospitals who I would engage in one-on-one music therapy sessions. During our time together, we focused on therapeutic singing and I taught him how to play the piano. This boy enjoyed learning new artistic skills that also helped him manage his emotional pain. He often verbalized that music helped him stay occupied because he kept himself focused on bettering the new skills he was learning. It gave him a positive and productive outlet. Once he was able to leave our hospital, he asked to continue music therapy after he transferred from Camber to his new providers. This made me feel amazing. To know that I not only helped this young man with his behavioral challenges but also helped him find a new hobby he loved was inspiring to me.
About Camber (Previously KVC Hospitals)
Camber helps children and teens who are struggling with depression, anxiety, the impacts of trauma, suicidal thoughts, and other mental health challenges. Each year, we help thousands of youth through our network of inpatient hospitals and psychiatric residential facilities by providing treatment, care, and skill-building so they can understand their diagnoses, connect to their support network and thrive.
If you’re looking for a rewarding career where you can help children heal from behavioral health challenges, visit our Careers page.
