What is Music Therapy?

Written By Anna Laura McAfee, MMT, MT-BC

This summer, we’ve had the pleasure of hosting our first summer intern! Meet Henry, a senior at Auburn University majoring in psychology. Henry has been a joyful presence around Empower this past month, helping out with our social groups, playing guitar along with our choirs, and just being an extra set of hands around here. We asked Henry for his perspective on what music therapy is and what we do around here at Empower - read his response below.

Our summer intern, Henry Kilpatrick.

What is music therapy?

To put it simply, music therapy is the use of music to achieve goals or aspirations. Often set by the client in session, these goals typically involve the promotion of well-being and the expression of feelings and emotions. Music therapy possesses many commonalities with other, “more traditional” styles of therapy including the therapeutic relationship between therapist and client centered around trust and the focus on client well-being. What differentiates music therapy from other types of therapy is right there in the name: Music!

Music therapists are professionally trained to incorporate both active and passive musical interventions within sessions to assist in goal achievement for the clients. Depending on client needs, expectations and preferences, therapists will incorporate either active musical interventions (i.e., playing of musical instruments, singing, songwriting, etc.) or passive ones (i.e., listening and interpreting musical selections) in order to create opportunities for the client to express themselves and accomplish their individualized goals. 

If you are anything like me, when you hear “music therapy”, you probably imagine teaching kids to play music to make them feel better. While this is definitely a part of music therapy, this view does not quite encompass all that this field has to offer. Music therapy was created for and is beneficial for all age groups ranging from children to elderly and everywhere in-between. Some common practices in music therapy include songwriting, instrument playing, listening to music, and dancing, all aimed at reaching a client’s individualized goal. 

At Empower, music therapists work with people of all different abilities ranging from “littles” (preschool ages) to adults and older adults. Through a combination of in-house appointments and our facility partnerships (such as KidPro, Matthew 25, etc.), Empower music therapy is going the extra mile to ensure care is provided to everyone in our community and out.

Written by Henry Kilpatrick, seasonal intern

Anna Laura McAfee, MMT, MT-BC

Hiya! I’m Anna Laura, a board-certified music therapist (MT-BC) in Nashville, TN. I’m from Western Arkansas, which is where I completed my Bachelor of Arts degree in music from the University of Central Arkansas with minors in interdisciplinary studies and psychology. During my bachelor's degree, I completed research on using music therapeutically with older adults with dementia and their family caregivers. In August 2018, I began the music therapy equivalency and master’s degree program at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina. During the equivalency portion of my studies, I explored individual and group-based music therapy in older adult residential facilities, special education classrooms, after-school programs for teenagers, adult medical settings, and residential facilities for people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (I/DD). In December 2020, I completed my internship at Opportunities for Positive Growth in Marion, Indiana, where I provided individual and group music therapy for children, teenagers, young adults, adults, and older adults with I/DD, autism, and neurocognitive disorders.

After internship, I returned to Appalachian State to complete my master’s degree in music therapy (MMT). During my graduate coursework, my focus was mainly on promoting self-determination and self-advocacy in teenagers and young adults with I/DD who communicate in extraverbally/nonverbally. I have taken courses in play therapy, special education, and child and adolescent therapy. I have also completed a graduate practicum promoting social skills with neurodiverse college students post-COVID quarantine. In December 2021 I completed my thesis titled “Promoting Self-Determination in Individuals with I/DD who Communicate Extraverbally: Reflections and Implications for Practice”.

I have professional experience working in public schools, assisted living facilities, and inpatient and outpatient psychiatric hospitals, focusing on academic, emotional, social, and communicative strengths and areas for potential growth.

I am passionate about disability rights and self-advocacy, and my main emphasis as a clinician is to help promote autonomy and self-determination, build a trusting and therapeutic relationship, and to help provide a space in the music for people to be themselves and express who and where they are.

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Community & Music Therapy