Music Therapy Program

Music therapy treatment can be helpful no matter your age, gender, or the issue you struggle with. Music therapy has been shown to:

1. Help lessen the effects of dementia.
2. Help reduce the number of asthma attacks in adults and children.
3. Help relieve pain for people who are in a hospital or clinical setting.
4. Help children with autism better communicate.
5. Help people with Alzheimer’s feel calmer and less anxious when listening to their favorite songs
6. Help people with Parkinson’s disease improve their motor skills–alleviating side effects typical of the disease like tremors and shuffling gait, rigid muscles, or speech changes.
   
   

The shared concept behind this is that the beat of a drum or the tick of a metronome can foster slow, coordinated movement as people try to move with the music. Playing kazoos or singing helps with breath support. What’s more, learning to play an instrument or sing along, even learning to dance to a specific song reinforces independence, creativity, and the release of happy hormones. Having a piano player in the lobby of a rehab clinic or hospital makes everyone feel a little more at ease, including medical staff, employees, and visitors. 

Singing along, playing an instrument, or dancing not only makes people who are dealing with recovery feel better, but it can be a useful form of therapy for families, helping to reduce stress levels in anxious family members who are worried about their loved ones during rehab.

However, not all medical facilities or rehab clinics can afford to have things like an oversized harp or string quartet in every room, but recorded music can still serve as a very important part of individual care. Some medical facilities use soft music in the background with natural sounds like birds, ocean waves, or calming instrumental music. This can be played in every room where a group meeting takes place, where family therapy is happening, or where individuals are dealing with the daily struggle of rehabilitation. But studies indicate excellent outcomes even when music is recorded and not in the form of a live performance.

Prevail Recovery Center provides addiction treatment and holistic therapy in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and Knoxville, Tennessee, including music therapy programs. Contact us today to learn more about our music therapy programs for mental health and addiction treatment.