Music Therapy
Credentialed clinical therapy that uses music-making and listening toward specific therapeutic goals, distinct from the relaxation-focused practice of Sound Healing.
Music therapy is a credentialed clinical field, practitioners hold the MT-BC (Music Therapist-Board Certified) credential through the Certification Board for Music Therapists, and it's distinct from the more general wellness practice of Sound Healing listed elsewhere on this site. A board-certified music therapist uses music-making, listening, songwriting, or lyric analysis toward specific therapeutic goals set collaboratively with a client, which might include emotional processing, communication skills, motor coordination, or cognitive function depending on the setting. It's used across a wide range of populations, including mental health, developmental disabilities, neurological rehabilitation, and hospice care, and no musical skill or background is required to participate.
Credentialed clinical therapy that uses music toward specific therapeutic goals, not a relaxation practice.
What to expect: Sessions are built around specific goals set with your therapist, which could involve playing instruments, singing, songwriting, or listening exercises, no musical training or ability is required. Your therapist will connect the musical activity explicitly back to your goals, whether that's emotional expression, communication, or something more physical or cognitive. Settings vary widely, from individual sessions to group or hospital-based work.
Good fit for: You're drawn to music as a way to access or express emotion, You want a clinically credentialed practitioner with specific, goal-directed training, You or a family member could benefit from music therapy as part of broader medical or developmental care
Explore for: Wanting a credentialed clinical approach that uses music as its primary tool, Difficulty accessing or expressing emotion through talk alone, Support alongside neurological, developmental, or medical care where music therapy is often integrated, An interest in songwriting, lyric analysis, or musical expression as therapeutic tools
Not the right fit if: You're looking for a passive, relaxation-focused listening experience, that's closer to Sound Healing on this site, You want purely verbal talk therapy without any experiential component
How to choose a practitioner: Confirm the MT-BC (Music Therapist-Board Certified) credential through the Certification Board for Music Therapists Ask about their experience with your specific goal or population Clarify what a typical session looks like, since format varies by setting and goal
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