Amelia Clapham, Music Therapist and Founder of Ace Music Therapy CIC writes about her experiences of how music transforms lives in her work as a music therapist
Music therapists are HCPC registered therapists who work with people of all ages and abilities using music to achieve a variety of therapeutic aims. One of the key areas we work with is to improve mental health and this is something which is becoming increasingly important following the Covid-19 pandemic as more people are suffering with mental illness.
Clients often come to us following a huge wait for NHS services, they are often suffering with anxiety or depression and need an outlet for their emotions. Music therapy not only offers a safe space for clients to express themselves however they feel comfortable, but also a unique opportunity to access the subconscious through the medium of improvised music making (playing music together). Music therapists are uniquely trained to carefully listen and attune themselves to the client, meeting them wherever they are emotionally, and supporting them through it.
When supporting children with poor mental health we often help them to understand and process their emotions through tools such as emotion stones in addition to music making.
Song writing is also an excellent medium which we use with both children and adults to help them to express themselves.
Music therapy sessions are uniquely client led, so there is nothing that “has to be done” each week. The therapist will always take their lead from the client. Some weeks the client may just want to listen to live or pre-recorded music, other weeks the client may want to engage in live music making or song writing and sometimes the client may wish to just simply talk about their week. Anything goes in music therapy – the only rules are do not damage the instruments, do not hurt yourself and do not hurt the therapist.
Family relationships are also an important part of our work, not only when working with individuals but also when working with mums and babies. Healthy attachments in early life are vital for positive mental health in the future, and our mother and baby group “Wiggles and Jiggles” aims to give mums the tools they need to communicate and develop healthy bonds with their babies. When asked what the best part of the session was, one recent mum commented “bonding with my baby helped me feel like a better mum.” If mums are feeling good then their babies will also feel good and their chance of suffering from mental health issues in the future is much lower.
Additionally, when working with children who have complex needs, music therapists often find themselves supporting the parents as well as the children. Giving the parents ideas of how to support their children through music and also by being a support to them week by week. Parents will often “offload” at the beginning of their session about how challenging their week has been. Here a parent reflected on her daughter’s music therapy sessions.
“G has benefitted massively, it has helped G harm herself a lot less and has given her a way to express herself more. Thank you so much for making G happier and for giving her a voice in her own way. We love you! Thank you.”
“Attending the Long Covid group was a really daunting experience as I hadn’t gone out much after surviving covid. I honestly thought a singing group was going to be people banging tambourines expecting me to sing ridiculous songs. I couldn’t have been more wrong, I was greeted with such warmth and understanding in a very personal setting with people that generally cared and the support was exactly what I had needed at such a hard time. Thank you so much for helping me with breathing techniques and also for providing a safe space for me to share such a personal experience”
Following the global pandemic we also find ourselves facing a new chronic illness – long covid. At Ace Music Therapy we have piloted a new way of working delivering music therapy groups “The Rhythmic Breath” to people with long covid, chronic illness and mental health issues.
Sessions aim to support clients with both the psychological and physiological symptoms of long covid. During sessions clients engage with music making activities, brain fog activities, singing and talking in a supportive space.
This is a group that we are extremely passionate about and have recieved multiple testimonials from people who attended the groups that show just how powerful it is at helping with their mental health.
We still have space for more people to attend The Rhythmic Breath and would love to be able to show more people the peace and joy that music can bring to us during difficult times.
Finally, when considering music therapy and mental health, we must also consider our own mental health as music therapists! As we cannot support our clients if we ourselves are not feeling supported. To become a music therapist, we undertake a rigorous 2 year masters degree where personal therapy is compulsory. Once qualified many therapists decide to continue their therapy as it can be very challenging always helping people. Music therapists also undertake regular clinical supervision, a safe space where they can discuss and reflect upon their clinical work in a safe space. This is a vital part of the music therapy work and is compulsory for all music therapists.
In summary, music therapy really does transform lives. It is a powerful therapy which deserves more recognition. Psychotherapy is not suitable for everyone and music therapy has the power to unlock those who feel “locked in”.
If you are struggling with your mental health or know someone who is, do get in touch. Ace Music Therapy offers not only in person sessions but also online too. We have several FREE groups running across Essex, have a look at our website for more details. We also provide clinical supervision too. Ace Music Therapy is a non profit social enterprise delivering music therapy and community music services across Essex, London and Hertfordshire.