20100130

'Music therapy helps my son through cancer treatment'

"Dana-Farber's music therapy program, offered through the Leonard P. Zakim Center for Integrative Therapies, has been a respite for my son Paul during his cancer experience.
Although cancer can sometimes deplete the human spirit, music therapy can uplift and transform — bringing the mind, body, and soul into harmony.
Until you or someone you love is battling cancer, you may not be able to understand the magnitude of the illness and how it can affect you emotionally, physically, and spiritually.
The doctors' appointments, transfusions, infusions, blood counts, surgeries, and diagnostic procedures can literally take over your days, putting your "normal" life on hold.
Paul's life has been on hold since he was struck by a car while riding his bike in 2001, when he was 13. He was not wearing a helmet, and suffered a severe traumatic brain injury. Not expected to live, he was given last rites.
When Paul awoke from a two-month coma, he could not walk or talk. But somehow, through the grace of God, the expertise of doctors, and Paul's own determination, he miraculously recovered.
He regained his cognitive abilities, his voice returned, and he was able to walk to the podium to receive his high school diploma — taking steps his doctors once deemed impossible.
At the time of Paul's graduation he was also recovering from another major hurdle: a bone marrow transplant as treatment for leukemia.
Many children are unable to find a bone marrow donor, but thankfully one of Paul's seven siblings, his 11-year-old brother, was a perfect match, and he received his transplant through Dana-Farber/Children's Hospital Cancer Care.
Isolated and bored in the hospital, Paul picked up a guitar and began to teach himself how to play.
He had been held captive for three months during his transplant procedure and recovery, all alone except for his family and a guitar. The only other people he saw were his care team and the music therapist they recommended, Brian Jantz.
Playing the guitar with Brian kept my son from falling into a deep depression. It gave him something to look forward to, and brought meaning to his days in the hospital and during the following year, when he had to deal with graft-versus-host disease, and was isolated in his bedroom to avoid getting an infection.
After that, Paul was desperate for relief from his symptoms, which included nausea, dizziness, fatigue, and itchiness.
After many types of medications and procedures, he was a little reluctant to experiment with alternative methods, but finally he sought help again from the Zakim Center and tried meditation, hypnosis, and acupuncture.
Remarkably, I saw a transformation in my son's spirit. He now felt he had some control over his situation, and seemed more at peace.
Paul was surprised and relieved when these therapies helped his symptoms subside. He continued to use music as a way to relax and heal. Then he met Jonathan Auerbach, a professional rock musician, song writer, and performer who volunteers with the Zakim Center's music therapy program.
Through his guidance, the Rockin' Time Jam Workshops at Dana-Farber were created, where Jonathan and Brian come together to help pediatric cancer patients find purpose by striving to become musicians. Or sometimes they just hang and "jam."
Today when Paul returns to the Jimmy Fund Clinic, he always leaves time for music therapy. At Jonathan's music workshops, he can enjoy spending time with other kids who are looking for a respite from their cancer — and regroup, revamp, and revive.
Paul's story is just one of many in which integrative therapies, and especially the music therapy program at the Zakim Center, complement western medicine and help to heal and give hope to anyone challenged by cancer."

— Dixie Fremont-Smith Coskie

Fonte: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

VÍDEOS PRODUZIDOS PELO CENTRO INTERNACIONAL DE DANÇATERAPIA MARÍA FUX

... and so on

Fonte: Centro Internacional de Dançaterapia www.dancaterapia.org

Music therapy for Russian children

"Disabled children in Russia are being offered the chance to learn through music. A new centre has just been set up in the North Ossetian capital, Vladikavkaz, giving disabled children a chance to overcome physical and emotional challenges through music." (Associated Content, Inc.)

Credit: Reuters
Copyright: Reuters

Alguns artigos 'repescados' (inglês)

Music is a part of most people's everyday lives. But the more specific techniques of music therapy can help individuals deal not only with stress, but perhaps with more serious issues as well.
The Music we listen to, sing, and dance to, has the power to heal. Find out if Music Therapy is right for you.
The music you choose may not always be the same as what you usually listen to. Music can help patients with pain, depression, anxiety and stress.
For women and men who are victims of domestic violence, it is quite common to develop low self esteem. Using music therapy, many victims find recovery.
What does a music therapist do? Find out everything you need to know about starting a career as a music therapist
For elderly patients, the use of music therapy provides for a method by which to resolve some of the complications associated with aphasia.
Music Therapy literally means the use of music by a trained music therapy professional to improve the social development, cognitive development and self awareness of the people. It helps people, mainly children and adolescents to express their feelings freely.

'Music Therapy Offers a Wide Range of Health Benefits'

Here is a Guide to the Many Uses of Music Therapy
by Kimberly Sharpe
"Music therapy is being utilized by many trained health care professionals for use with children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly who suffer from a wide range of mental illnesses, learning disabilities, developmental disabilities,
Alzheimer's assistance, brain injuries, chronic pain sufferers, and even women in labor with a baby.

A wide range of professional institutions employ and use music therapies in treatment settings. Music therapists can be found at hospitals, psychiatric hospitals, rehabilitative facilities, outpatient clinics, services that aid the developmentally disabled persons, mental health centers, drug and alcohol centers, senior centers, nursing homes, many hospice programs, a few correctional facilities, schools, and in private practice.

For hundreds of years it has been believed that music can help sooth and aid in persons well being. The utilization of serious music therapy started after the two World Wars when musicians, orchestras, and bands would visit the local military hospitals and the troops on the front line to perform. The health and mental well being of these soldiers improved dramatically. At the veterans hospitals the improvement of the patients who had regular musical visits improved so dramatically that doctors implored the hospitals to hire regular musical therapists to aid in the treatment of the injured and sick solders. The first musical therapy degree program in the world was founded at Michigan State University in 1944 because of the demand by local hospitals for this wonderful health beneficial service.

Qualified musical therapists should have the following degree designations, RMT, CMT, ACMT. This means that these individuals are truly qualified to practice music therapy.

When using music therapy the person being treated does not need to have any musical skill. Each season of musical therapy is tailor made to fit the individuals likes and dislikes. Any and all music is acceptable in therapy sessions.
Music therapy helps elderly people stay social,improve their memory, and keep them vitalized. It alleviates depression, anxiety, and fear. It can bring on a deep relaxation and relieve stress. The therapy in a hospital setting can help a patient relax and forget about ongoing pain or discomfort. It can relieve any fear or anxiety that they might be suffering.

Musical therapy has been shown to be very beneficial with the learning disabled by helping them to communicate and interact better. It can help not only the disabled but those that suffer from mental health issues to explore their feelings and emotions. It even helps to build confidence, aid in problem solving, and develop deeper inner personal relationships.

In the severely mentally ill music has been shown to lower aggression levels and to help the person better cope with the world around them in a positive manner. It has been shown to help even severe mental disorders and have a positive impact over time.

Many midwifes and Ob/gyns are now utilizing music during both labor and delivery of babies. This seems to help the mother relax and forget about the pain. It also seems to sooth the infant as it comes into the world.

In 1994 music therapy has been recognized by Medicare as a full reimbursable service under benefits for Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHP).

To learn more about the benefits of music therapy please visit the American Music Therapy Associations official website.

Sources:

http://voice.unimelb.edu.au/view.php?articleID=4534

http://www.alternateheals.com/music-therapy/music-therapy-research.htm

http://www.cochrane.org/reviews/en/ab004025.html
http://www.musictherapy.org/"
Fonte: © 2010 Associated Content, Inc.

  © Blogger template 'The Base' by Ourblogtemplates.com 2008. Adapted by Margarida Azevedo (Março, 29, 2009).

Back to TOP