Southern Music Therapy

About

Specialises in Music Therapy for people with Neurological Disorders

Story

Music therapy is the planned use of music to assist the healing and personal growth of people with identified emotional, intellectual, physical or social needs. Music therapy uses the expressive elements of music as the primary means of interaction between therapist and client.
Whatever your ability everyone can appreciate and respond to music and sound. Music therapists work with individuals and groups and the methods vary according to the setting, clients needs and the theoretical approach of the music therapist.


Who is Music Therapy for?
Music Therapists work with children and adults of all age ranges and needs, including those with learning disabilities, physical, emotional and psychological disorders and sensory impairments.
Music Therapists work in a variety of settings, such as hospitals, special schools, day centre’s, within communities, rehabilitation units and in private practice.

Music Therapy and Neurological Disorder

Music is processed in many parts of the brain, which makes it an excellent tool for people living with a neurological disorder such as an acquired brain injury, Stroke, Huntington's, Parkinson's. Individual and group programmes are devised for assessment, neuro-rehabilitation, and to enhance quality of life.

Typical reasons for referral
A person with a neuro-disability may require music therapy for maintenance and improvement of skills including:
Physical skills
Cognition and thinking skills
Emotional expression
Communication skills
Relating to others
Reducing stress, tension and anxiety


Music Therapy for someone living with a neurological disorder is effective in:

Facilitating self-expression and enhancing identity.
Improving engagement and motivation to participate
Building confidence and improving mood.
Improving communication e.g. by making speech easier to understand through enhancing breath control, volume and articulation with singing.
Extending movement and physical co-ordination

"Southern Music Therapy is a private practice servicing the Canterbury region and beyond.We are a dynamic creative and developing team. We aim to provide a quality, client-centred, collborative and sustainable music therapy service.We assist our clients in attaining, maintaining or regaining optimum levels of functioning or adaptation in all areas of development and well-being.We have three locations or can come to you.Papanui, Halswell and Barrington"