Music Therapy

What is music therapy? 

Music therapy is an established health care profession that uses music to support the physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of people of all ages. It can improve quality of life for children and adults living with disabilities, illnesses or other challenges. 

At Banner Health, our Music Therapy Program is designed to bring comfort, healing, and joy to patients and their families through the power of music. 

How does music therapy work? 

A board-certified music therapist will start by assessing your needs, including: 

• Emotional well-being 
• Physical health 
• Communication abilities 
• Cognitive skills 
• Social functioning 

Based on this assessment, the therapist creates a personalized plan and regularly evaluates your progress to make sure you’re receiving the right benefits. 

Music therapy sessions can be individual or group-based and may include: 

• Music improvisation 
• Receptive music listening 
• Songwriting and lyric discussion 
• Guided imagery with music 
• Music performance 
• Learning through music 

Benefits of music therapy 

Music therapy offers many proven benefits. Some of the most common include: 

• Relieving pain 
• Reducing anxiety and stress 
• Promoting relaxation 
• Enhancing memory 
• Improving communication skills 
• Supporting emotional expression 
• Boosting overall quality of life 

Music therapy for children 

Music therapy can be especially helpful for children who are hospitalized or coping with illness. Sessions are designed to meet developmental needs while helping kids and families adjust to the hospital environment. 

Goals may include: 

• Providing healthy ways to express feelings 
• Managing pain and stress 
• Building confidence and self-esteem 
• Supporting communication and social skills 
• Distracting from procedures such as shots or medication 
• Creating a sense of normalcy in the hospital setting 

Activities with children may include: 

• Group music-making 
• Instrument play and improvisation 
• Learning to play an instrument 
• Relaxation exercises with music 
• Singing songs 
• Songwriting and creative expression 

At Banner Health, our compassionate music therapists use music as a bridge to healing - helping patients and families find comfort, connection and hope during difficult times.