the clients, Music Therapists offer individual or group sessions. For a child with
autism, this could be helping them to find a way to communicate with others.
For a learning disabled adult, this could be helping them to find a way in which
to express their emotions in a safe and supported environment. For an older
person with dementia, this could be helping them to feel valued and heard.
The work of a Music Therapist takes place not only in sessions but also around
the sessions. In thinking about a client and their needs, Music Therapists will
liaise with other professionals working with the client to provide a holistic,
joined-up approach to their care. This can include offering assessments,
attending meetings, weekly telephone calls with the client's family or carers,
providing joint sessions with other professionals, writing reports, and making
recommendations for further treatment.
Arts Therapy
Art therapy is a form of psychotherapy that uses art media as its primary mode
of expression and communication. Within this context, art is not used as
diagnostic tool but as a medium to address emotional issues which may be
confusing and distressing.
Art therapists work with children, young people, adults and the elderly. Clients
may have a wide range of difficulties, disabilities or diagnoses. These include
emotional, behavioural or mental health problems, learning or physical
disabilities, life-limiting conditions, neurological conditions and physical
illnesses.
Art therapy is provided in groups or individually, depending on clients' needs. It
is not a recreational activity or an art lesson, although the sessions can be
enjoyable. Clients do not need to have any previous experience or expertise in
art.
Although influenced by psychoanalysis, art therapists have been inspired by
theories such as attachment-based psychotherapy and have developed a broad
range of client-centred approaches such as psycho-educational, mindfulness
and mentalization-based treatments, compassion-focussed and cognitive
analytic therapies, and socially engaged practice.