Resources & references

Read an article exploring the use and possibilities of music therapy for severely multiply-disabled individuals. A focus-group of music therapists who work with this population was convened, and the findings are compiled into three macro-areas: opportunities, music therapy approaches, and research challenges. 

This literature review examines music therapy treatment with active military service members and veterans. Common session formats and music experiences, the development of music therapy as a a profession, and gaps within the current body of research are discussed.

Music therapy can uniquely help severely injured children and their families deal with the events surrounding an accident and its aftermath. The use of music therapy in treating these families on a pediatric service is described and illustrated with a fracture patient and a burn patient

Read an article exploring four case studies of music therapy with young children who had intellectual disabilities and complex needs. The music therapy sessions were compared to toy-play sessions, led by the same therapist, and results indicated that both conditions were similar in the quantity of communicative interactions, but that the music therapy communicative attempts displayed more interpersonal interactions.

Read an article exploring the effectiveness of a music therapy intervention on resilience in undergraduate university students. Results demonstrated a positive impact on resilience and affect, regardless of what year of study a student is in. Limitations and implications for future research are also discussed. 

Read a scoping review on musical interaction in young people with severe or profound intellectual and multiple disabilities. Findings highlight six categories of promising components of musical interaction and suggest that musical activities, including music therapy, have positive benefits in a number of domains for this population.

Read a scoping review on music-based interventions for individuals with eating disorders. Results found that music therapy was the most frequently used music-based intervention, and studies reported improvements in anxiety, mood, eating disorder symptoms, and an increase in food eaten and weight gained when music based interventions were used. 

This research article investigates a music therapy program that uses music improvisation to enhance emotional wellbeing and social skills among elementary school students displaying behaviour challenges.

Read about a group music therapy program for Ukrainian children seeking refuge in Spain. This article explores the use of music therapy experiences to enhance social integration, process trauma, and improve quality of life among participants.

This article presents how music therapy can be incorporated in end-of-life care, through the lens of Philippe Ariès' theories of death.

This study explores the experiences of music therapists working with adults in mental health settings across Quebec, both in the community and in hospitals. It highlights their reflections and recommendations to support the expansion of music therapy services in mental health.

This research article explains the scientific basis of Neurologic Music Therapy. In this music therapy approach, trained professionals use rhythm and auditory perception to enhance physical, cognitive, speech, and language rehabilitation along clients with various diagnoses such as Parkinson's disease and aphasia.