Music therapy is a well-established and risk-free technique for using musical interaction to help individuals with a wide range of cognitive and emotional challenges to improve their ability to function. By interacting with adults and children on the autism spectrum, musical therapists can build skills, lower anxiety, and even develop new communication skills.
Music therapy may help people with autism to improve skills in areas such as communication, social skills, sensory issues, behavior, cognition, perceptual/motor skills, and self-reliance or self-determination.1 The therapist finds music experiences that strike a chord with a particular person, making personal connections and building trust.
Benefits of Music therapy are:
• Reduces anxiety and physical symptoms of stress
• Helps to manage Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease
• Reduces depression and other symptoms (in the elderly population)
• Reduces symptoms of psychological disorders
• Improves self-expression and communication
Art Therapy
Art is a natural way for all children to explore and express themselves. Through drawing, painting, and creating in general, children learn about their emotions, cope with situations, and are encouraged to explore social interactions. Children with autism process the world differently and require more help in understanding and developing many of these skills.
Art therapy is a mental health profession that uses the creative process of art-making to improve and enhance the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of individuals of all ages. It is based on the belief that the creative process involved in artistic self-expression helps people to resolve conflicts and problems, develop interpersonal skills, manage behavior, reduce stress, increase self-esteem, and self-awareness, and achieve insight
Benefits of Art therapy are:
• Improved ability to imagine and think symbolically
• Improved ability to recognize and respond to facial expressions
• Improved ability to manage sensory issues (problems with stickiness, etc.)
• Improved fine motor skills
