MUSIC THERAPY AT OKCYS

Individual and group music therapy services for all ages and abilities

Music therapy for children with autism primarily aims to support interpersonal relationships, communication skills, psychomotor functions, and promote sensory and emotional regulation. Music as a multi-sensory experience can be used as a means of self-expression for persons with autism. Music therapy interventions can help strengthen areas of the brain necessary for basic and executive function skills.

As defined by the Canadian Association of Music Therapists (CAMT, June 2016), Music Therapy is a discipline in which credentialed professionals (MTAs*) use music purposefully within therapeutic relationships to support development, health, and well-being. Music therapists use music safely and ethically to address human needs within cognitive, communicative, emotional, musical, physical, social, and spiritual domains.

*Music Therapist Accredited Music therapy can:

Facilitate communication, both verbal and nonverbal
Enhance interpersonal relationships
Enhance appropriate and integrated sensory and motor development
Support emotional regulation
Increase focus and concentration
Facilitate coping strategies to support stress and anxiety
Enhance creative self-expression and promote emotional satisfaction
Increase confidence and self-identity

Personalized interventions may include:

Interventions targeting auditory skills: discrimination/sequencing
Therapeutic application of guitar, piano, percussive instruments etc.
Creative movement to music
Exploration & improvisation of small percussive & melodic instruments
Structured simple sequence musical games with visual reinforcers
Vocal improvisation & vocal exploration
Songs/interventions targeting speech development
Weekly Hello & Goodbye songs providing ritual and routine
Song writing for self-expression
Child created/guided musical and therapeutic play
Positive Behavior Support/ behavior management techniques
Adapted music lessons for guitar, piano and ukulele
Music assisted relaxation
Songs/interventions to target educational goals
Counselling to support emotional regulation
Music listening to familiar and preferred songs to boost mood and self-expression

To learn more about music therapy, please visit:

https://soulsoundsmusictherapy.ca

https://www.mtabc.com/what-is-music-therapy/how-does-music-therapy-work/autism-spectrum-disorders/