Salisbury Music Therapy
Creative Psychotherapy in Salisbury, Wiltshire
What is Music Therapy?
Music Therapy is an established psychological intervention facilitated by HCPC registered Music Therapists who use music to help people when using words alone feel too much.
Music Therapy focuses on connecting with people beyond words. It can offer clients a space to express and explore their feelings in a safe and creative way. Music Therapy can be used to reach places within people that are difficult to find solely with words.
Music, rhythm and sound is innate in all of us. As babies prior to language, we often communicated with our caregivers through the rhythmic heartbeat in the womb, pitch intonations and body language. We believe that everyone can respond and communicate through music and sound.
Why Music Therapy?
Life can throw difficulties and obstacles for each of us. Sometimes we try to navigate these difficulties alone. Sometimes we can rely on the people around us, such as friends or family (if we are fortunate enough to have a support network). Yet sometimes we may feel like we need something a bit more.
Seeing a therapist can be a way to help people make sense of their current or past situations and to find a way towards a more freeing future.
Through the use of music and the therapeutic relationship, individuals can explore emotions, build confidence and self-esteem, develop coping strategies, develop social and communication skills, understanding themselves and the world around them.
What happens in a session?
Sessions last for 50 minutes. There are no expectations in Music Therapy. Sessions can include: listening to music together, creating music together, talking, songwriting, creating art together, having a space "to be". The therapeutic relationship is fundamental between the therapist and client. Each client is empowered to make their own informed thoughts and choices.
Clients are not expected to “know how to play instruments” and the aim is not education led. Sessions are used to enable expression of self through music and sound.
The Music Therapist will use their extensive MA training to think psychologically about what may be going on for each client, which can be explored in sessions. Sometimes unhelpful patterns of behaviour and thoughts can be present. It can be unclear for people to consciously recognise this. It is the role of the therapist to unpick these patterns and work with the client to make them aware. This is often where positive changes can emerge.
The Music Therapist writes weekly clinical notes which are safely secured and aligned with GDPR regulations.
Music Therapy sessions are confidential, unless the therapist believes the client or someone else is at risk. If the therapist needs to share information to keep people safe, this will be discussed with the client in the moment.
Who can benefit?
Anyone can benefit from Music Therapy! However, it can be particularly useful for people who struggle to communicate verbally due to its non-reliance on words.
Music Therapy can help people whose lives have been affected by the following:
Trauma
Bereavement and Loss
Abuse
Social and behavioural difficulties
Confidence and self-esteem difficulties
Caring responsibilities
Young people in care
Loneliness
Autism
Anxiety
Depression
Mental health difficulties
Parkinson's
Cognitive impairment/difficulties
Dementia
Our first relationships we form as children with our caregivers significantly shapes the way we view the world and relationships as adults. Working with a therapist can help understand and repair parts of our inner childhood wounds through self exploration and the therapeutic relationship. Music Therapy can be useful for anyone.
Where are sessions?
We work within the local community. We can discuss at the initial consultation where may be most appropriate for your sessions, such as at your home, community centre, school, etc.
What is the process?
1. Please contact us using the contact page on our website if you are self-referring or referring someone else to Music Therapy.
2. We will then arrange an initial consultation and ask you to complete a referral form. We will discuss details about costs, location and logistics.
3. We will offer 3 assessment sessions to ensure that Music Therapy is the most appropriate therapy for that individual.
How much do sessions cost?
We charge £70 per Music Therapy individual session. There may be concessions depending on individual circumstances, this can be discussed at the initial consultation. There may be additional costs such as if a room requires hiring for sessions. We charge separately for attendance of meetings and report writing.