Friday 29 Mar 2024
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This article first appeared in Personal Wealth, The Edge Malaysia Weekly, on Jan 18 - 24, 2016.

 

 

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Music therapy uses music to soothe and heal.

 

Continuous sessions

Music therapy has its own challenges. For example, not everyone responds to the therapy. "Some children, for example, have made up their minds on whether they like music or not. Sometimes, it is a door that they decide to close," says Kuek Ser.

Isabel Tan, a registered music therapist who specialises in helping children with autism, says the first session tends to be the most challenging. "From my experience, many clients are not used to the environment during the first assessment session. Some of them do not like to be 'taught' when we target different goals for cognitive skills such as increasing memory or counting skills. As a result, they throw tantrums and the session is a challenge. However, I believe the therapist-client bond is very important to decrease the challenges encountered during the session." 

However, she adds that it is also very rewarding despite the challenges. 

One of the challenges is explaining what the therapy can and cannot do, says Sherrene Teh, who specialises in helping children with special needs. "Music therapy can be effective, but it does not cure cancer or illnesses," she adds.

The market rate for a music therapy session in the Klang Valley can cost from RM120 to RM150 for a 45-minute session. But the price can vary, depending on who they are working with and whether it is for a private or group session. 

Meanwhile, the number of sessions clients have to attend depends on their involvement and response. "In my practice, I do a review every three months with the person who hired me, whether it is the parents or care giver. In the review, I discuss and show them what the child can now do after the sessions. Then, I ask them whether I should continue. If they agree, I do another review in three months," says Teh. 

However, she adds, there are certain cases where she has to extend the review period. "I have worked with a 15-year-old child with cerebral palsy who is in a wheelchair. He can't move his feet or his hands, can't speak … so for him, you can see very little progress in three months. We extended it to six months. After six months, we will sit down and review his case again." 

While Malaysia has yet to have any board of accreditation for music therapy, there are plans to establish one. Kuek Ser says this is important to make sure that nobody can simply claim that they are music therapists without any professional training.

"Different countries have their own regulation system. In music therapy, you are dealing with very fragile conditions and not everyone should be allowed to be called a music therapist if they are not trained," she says.

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