I offer music therapy to a
variety of clientsboth as individuals or in groups. I plan the
sessions according to the preferences, resources and needs of the
clients/groups, and my overall focus is on wellbeing, development,
and quality of life.
Currently, I utilize music therapy with the following
clientele:
- Babies aged 0-1 year and one of their parents:
Within this forum I use sense stimulation activities, song games,
and improvisation on small instruments, amongst others. Sound is
the first sensation of a fetus, which can be used creatively
through recognition of moods and sensations. Through repetition of
selected songs and song games, we communicate with the babies on a
level that, besides the meaning of the words, includes gestures as
well as non-verbal moods and intonations.
- Children aged 2-5 years in daycare and
kindergarten: Here we work with turn-taking, imitation and
sense stimulation. As the children get older, I increasingly focus
on social competence, audial responsiveness and group
responsibility, gross- and fine motor skills, as well as song
recognition games. I use children's songs accompanied with gestures
and challenge the children's fantasy through improvisation.
- Children and youths with reduced functional
development, such as autism, ADHD, and brain injuries:
Each client is unique and will benefit from different approaches,
but overall, I work with turn-taking, imitation, and recognition on
a basic level. I adapt the improvisation and activities to the
level of the client's functional development and focus on
strengthening existing abilities, while encouraging new ones.
- Adults with mental illnesses, such as people with
double diagnoses or addictions: Here I work with the life
history of the client on a more or less direct level. Internal
emotions can be difficult to express in words, but can instead be
expressed through playing and singing, songwriting and music
listening.
- Seniors in elderly homes, such as elders with
dementia: With age there can be a decrease in the ability
to talk, hear, remember, etc. but interestingly the musical core
stays more intact. This implies that the elder can benefit from
listening, singing and creating music with a music therapist.
Activating the musical core can awaken other centers of the brain
and thereby improve otherskills, such as speech and short and long
term memory.
- Guided Imagery and Music (GIM), individually or in
groups: This method can be used for personal development
and address internal processes and experiences during a musical
journey. In individual GIM we start with a pre-conversation, where
the client and the therapist converse about an interesting theme of
the session. The theme can be used as a center of the journey, but
it is also possible to leave the theme open. The client is guided
into an altered state of consciousness through a relaxation
exercise, prior to the beginning of the music. Classical music
programs with normally four to eight pieces are then used to guide
the client's imagery and bodily sensations. The therapist verbally
interacts with the client to provide a safe and present link to
reality. The session ends with a post-conversation, where the
client has the opportunity to draw or write important features from
the journey.
- Group GIM is similar to individual GIM. The
participants might find a common theme to explore during the
journey,while the therapist provides guidance in the
beginning of the music listening period. It can be intense to
experience the music together in a group, and part imagery and
physical sensations. The group furthermore gives the
possibility to get support, understanding and challenge from the
other people involved. Unlike individual GIM, in group GIM there is
no verbal interaction during the journey, and the music program
most often consists of one or two rather than four to eight
pieces.
