Posted 3 months ago
Music Therapy and Sound Healing
Receiving a diagnosis of cancer can evoke an array of emotions for individuals including anger, fear, guilt, shame, sadness, and even embarrassment. Finding out you have cancer is a serious life event and can trigger stress for the individual and even their family members.
Supportive cancer care is complimentary to medical treatment and does not replace the treatment offered by your Oncologist. Supportive care services used with cancer patients can improve your overall well-being and quality of life during and after treatments.
What can music therapy do for you?
One example of supportive care for cancer patients is Music therapy. Music therapy cannot cure, treat, or prevent any type of disease, including cancer. However, Music therapy has shown to yield many benefits for cancer patients and survivors such as reducing the symptoms of anxiety, pain, fatigue, depression and promote feelings of hope.
This form of therapy uses specifically designed musical interventions to address the social, emotional, cognitive, and physical needs of an individual. When this form of therapy is provided by a health care professional, it has shown to help with coping skills, adjustment to your diagnosis and cancer treatment, as well as improving your overall physical and mental wellness.
What does a session of Music Therapy entail?
The first step is finding a therapist who specializes in this practice. It is very important to establish a relationship with your therapist. You must feel comfortable sharing feelings, fears, and concerns with them. The communication should be open and flow.
Picking goals to work on
Together, you and the therapist will establish goals to work on. These are your goals and may include some of the following examples.
– Improve quality of life
– Learn how to relax
– Feel less anxious, depressed, and alone
– Express your emotions in healthy ways
– Support spiritual needs
– Improve relationships you have with family and friends
– Reduce pain and nausea, muscle tension, and anxiety
– Support you during procedures that may trigger anxiety or pain
There are local sources for Music Therapy. Websites like PsychologyToday.com allow you to search for a local provider or one that does virtual sessions. You can contact your insurance to find a provider that is contracted. However, Music Therapy is not always covered in most traditional insurance plans. You can pay out of pocket, but this may be very pricey.
Alternative music resources
We also have some suggestions for musical interventions that may reduce your stress, improve your wellbeing, and provide you with some joy, that are outside the scope of practice for traditional Music Therapy.
One of the main reasons people with cancer use music therapy is because it makes them feel good. Listening to music can be calming and relaxing. There are so many ways to experience music and all of the healing benefits it can offer.
– At Ironwood, we offer an array of wellness classes and events including Breathwork, Sound Healing, Reiki, Tai Chi, and so much more. You can always contact our Supportive Care Services Coordinator, Cassandra Wayterra, via email at wellness@ironwoodcrc.com or by checking out our calendar online at https://www.ironwoodcrc.com/event-calendar/
– Online, you can find virtual and in-person classes and events all over the valley. To find one near you, try searching Sound Healing, Singing or Sound Bowls, Sound Bath, Chakra Toning, or Integrative Healing. You can also find recorded and live concerts online in all genres of sound and music. YouTube offers endless videos and sound healing sessions. We do suggest that you also include “ad free” in your search.
Nicole McCallister, LMSW
Nicole McCallister is a Licensed Master Social Worker. Nicole received her Master’s in Social Work from Arizona State University in August 2017. She received her Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice Studies in April 2003 from Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids, MI.
Nicole has spent the last 15 years working with children and families in the child welfare system of Arizona. She completed a social work internship with Ironwood under the supervision of Kelly Huey from August 2016 through May 2017.
Nicole has volunteered with Ironwood’s breast cancer support group in Scottsdale after her internship was complete. Nicole is looking forward to working with cancer patients and their families in hopes of supporting the positive change to those in need.