| Paterson Centre for Mental Health, 20 South Wharf Road, London W2 1PD |
Tel: 020 7886 1973 |
| St. Charles Mental Health Unit, Exmoor Street, London W10 6DZ |
Tel: 020 8962 4341 / 4344 |
| Roundwood Resource Centre, Harlesden Road, London NW10 3RY |
Tel: 020 8451 8284 |
| West End Day Services, Soho Centre for Health and Care, 4th Floor, 29-30 Soho Square, London W1V 5DH |
Tel: 020 7534 6688 / 6690 |
| Park Royal Centre for Mental Health, Therapy Wing, Acton Lane, NW10 7NS |
Tel: 020 8453 2647 |
| Willow Day Hospital, South Kensington and Chelsea Mental Health Centre, 1, Nightingale Place, London SW10 9NG |
Tel: 020 8846 6046 (Service funded by Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy Charity) |
What is Music Therapy?
Music Therapy is a form of treatment in which participants and therapist improvise together on a range of musical instruments. For most it is a way of feeling and being different; some use the music to connect with others and to help with emotional and relationship difficulties.
The music created between client and therapist or between members of a group can bring the client into contact with unexpected feelings or ways of relating that the he/she may wish to discuss. Other participants in music therapy may not wish to talk at all, and just prefer to work through the music.
Music therapy is offered in the short, medium or long term. It takes place in individual sessions and groups. Some groups are open to newcomers every week (as is often the case in hospital), others have a consistent membership and require commitment and hard work from participants.
Who is it for?
- People with severe mental health problems mostly
- People who are isolated and have difficulties making satisfying friendships
- People who might benefit from engaging in a long-term working therapeutic relationship
- People whose psychological needs may have been eclipsed by symptom-focused medical intervention
- People who have frequent hospital admissions
- People who are in hospital, in crisis, acutely unwell
- People who are on a Section of the Mental Health Act (1983), preventing them from leaving the ward
The Music Therapist
Music Therapy sessions are facilitated by the music therapist who has an extensive specialist training and experience of music therapy. Music therapists are trained musicians.
All music therapists have to be state registered. They are regulated by the 'Professions Allied to Medicine Act'. Our professional organisation is the Association of Music Therapists, which has a code of conduct by which all music therapists must abide.
Interested about working in Music Therapy? Why not visit our Jobs page?