TR Resource

Recreation Therapy and Music Therapy are different. Recreation Therapists don’t do music therapy but they DO use music as a therapeutic intervention tool. I know, it sounds similar but let me try to explain…

Music Therapists are educated and trained professionals to provide prescribed music therapy programs for therapeutic goals. Music is the only intervention used.

Recreation Therapists may use music as an intervention within their treatment programs for specific goals.

Benefits of using Music as Therapy:

• Reduces anxiety and stress/ Relaxation
• Concentration
• Communication
• Pain relief
• Auditory Stimulation
• Increase alertness
• Self expression

Techniques:

• Therapeutic Drumming/Drum Circles
• Live music/Bands
• Painting to music/self expression

Here are some helpful resources to aide Recreation Therapists in search of more information on Music as a therapeutic intervention. Music Therapist can be a great resource for recreation therapist to gather more knowledge, ideas for programming and well as a great person to co-treat with.

Websites:

• American Music Therapy Association

Books:

• Healing Power of the Drum, Robert Lawrence Friedman
• Drum Circle Spirit, Arthur Hull
• When Drummers Were Women, Layne Redmond