Blending Music and Talk Therapies for Kids and Teens

"Children and teens have not yet fully developed the skills needed to identify, understand, and cope with stressors. As a result, they may experience unease, emotional distress, or a diminished sense of well-being without understanding why. Feelings of loss, anxiety, or sadness may be present- sometimes tied to specific experiences, but often vague or difficult to articulate. For young people, music therapy can be an especially effective form of treatment."

"Music therapy-an evidence-based treatment provided by trained and licensed music therapists-is used in a variety of settings, including hospitals, schools, mental health facilities, and private practice, and can be offered in individual or group therapy sessions, either in-person or via telehealth. The goals of music therapy include healing, communication, emotional expression, psychological growth, stress reduction, and increased self-esteem. Music plays a central role in youth culture, and adolescents in particular may be reluctant to engage in traditional talk therapy;"

Children and adolescents often lack fully developed skills to identify, understand, and cope with stressors, which can produce vague emotional distress such as loss, anxiety, or sadness. Music therapy is an evidence-based treatment delivered by trained, licensed music therapists across hospitals, schools, mental health settings, and private practice, in individual or group formats and via telehealth. Goals include healing, communication, emotional expression, psychological growth, stress reduction, and increased self-esteem. Music aligns with youth culture and can be more acceptable to adolescents than talk therapy. Specialized music therapy supports attention, social engagement, and communication for children with autism or speech delays.

Read at Psychology Today