Telehealth music therapy has become increasingly popular in recent years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This article explores the benefits, strategies, and implementation of this form of remote healthcare services. Telehealth provides a safe way for clients and therapists to receive and provide therapeutic services, especially for individuals who are immune deficient. It also provides easier access to healthcare for individuals who have limited resources. The American Music Therapy Association (AMTA) released a survey highlighting how music therapists felt about the transition to telehealth in 2020. The study revealed that 74% of the music therapists reported that their clients had positive reactions to TMT, and some clients were even considered to be thriving in new ways.
This article discusses the benefits, strategies, and implementation of telehealth music therapy. Telehealth is a term used to describe remote healthcare services. These services have been in high demand globally in recent years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Telehealth provides a safe way for clients and therapists to receive and provide therapeutic services, especially for individuals who are immune deficient. It also provides easier access to healthcare for many individuals who have fewer resources. The COVID-19 pandemic allowed TMT to gain further development due to the decrease in in-person therapy. The American Music Therapy Association (AMTA) released a survey highlighting how music therapists felt about the transition to telehealth in 2020. The study revealed that 74% of the music therapists reported that their clients had positive reactions to TMT, and some clients were even considered to be thriving in new ways. Family involvement in sessions also increased, which also presented positive effects on the treatment as a whole.
When working with technology, there are some drawbacks. Depending on the internet connection and other factors, there can be a lag in music playing or sound quality issues. Some clients may not have access to musical instruments, limiting the interventions that therapists can utilize in therapy. Older adults with dementia may also have difficulty with telehealth without a third party helping them in person. A therapist should always consider these things when determining if a client is a good candidate for telehealth music therapy.
Certified music therapists who had conducted at least ten telehealth sessions participated in a survey on their perspectives of telehealth music therapy. It reviewed their thoughts on the benefits and challenges of TMT, how to improve the practice, and what contributes to successful TMT implementation. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected from 572 music therapists from 29 countries. The majority of the therapists utilized humanistic approaches, followed by integrative and neurologic music therapy (NMT). A majority of them were therapists who also worked in the areas of private practice, followed by healthcare and education. These therapists treated a wide range of clients and diagnoses. However, the most common populations treated were children with developmental delays, individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and mental health patients. When transitioning to TMT sessions, therapists said that there were changes in goal areas, with the most common goal areas being emotional expression, speech and language/communication, mood, anxiety, and cognition. The changes in goal areas depended on the specific needs of the clients. They noted that they mostly utilized singing, music-listening, songwriting, movement, and improvisation interventions. Although there was less success in using live and pre-recorded music in these sessions compared to in-person, the therapists stated that they were successful in utilizing both live and pre-recorded music most of the time. The study also highlighted that almost half of these therapists took additional training courses to improve their knowledge of technology and the implementation of TMT. Clients experienced increased access to music therapy, continuation of services during the pandemic, and therapy in the comfort of their homes.
During and after COVID-19, TMT has been a way to provide specific individuals with care that they may not have access to otherwise. During the pandemic, TMT provided continuation of care, which was beneficial for therapists and clients. The pandemic made music therapists shift to TMT relatively quickly, and it has most likely advanced since 2020. Data collection for this study was collected from January through July of 2022 and provides a perspective of TMT two years after the onset of the pandemic. Recommendations from the study suggest that MTs should continue to assess if TMT is suitable for an individual and should consider a hybrid treatment plan that includes in-person sessions as well. TMT allows individuals of different circumstances the opportunity to get treatment, and therapists should consider furthering their education on cultural humility and competencies. Overall, telehealth music therapy is beneficial for many populations and can be easily facilitated in most cases by a trained music therapist. In conclusion, implementing this form of healthcare highlights the flexibility of music therapists and their dedication to the specific needs of their clients.
-Lila Finke, Music Therapy Intern
References
Clements-Cortés, A., Pranjić, M., Knott, D., Mercadal-Brotons, M., Fuller, A., Kelly, L., Selvarajah, I., & Vaudreuil, R. (2023). International music therapists’ perceptions and experiences in telehealth music therapy provision. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(8). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20085580