Gainesville Music Therapy - Child-Centered Music Therapy

Child-Centered Music Therapy

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Child-Centered Music Therapy (CCMT) is specifically designed for children and adolescents with special needs. The therapist creates improvised musical themes based on the behaviors, feelings, and actions that each individual child brings to the session. No two sessions are alike, due the spontaneous, individualized nature of the music created for each child. By playing music around each child's behaviors and feelings, the therapist meets the child and builds a foundation on which further goal-directed work can be built.

"Nonverbal communication between an autistic child playing the drums and a therapist on the piano can serve to bring an autistic child out of isolation."

- American Medical Association

Various instruments that require no skill or experience are used by the child while the therapist creates music on the piano or guitar that engages, matches, supports, and enhances the child’s playing. The therapist and child develop various musical themes together, based on here-and-now experiences. These musical themes are then brought back into following sessions to be developed. Within the co-created musical improvisation, clinical goals and treatment plans are developed by the therapist. The approach is unique in its ability to tap into the musical "being" of the child, an area that is rarely tapped in traditional education.

CCMT is not a sing-along. In fact, we find that many children have incredible memories, and often can sing many songs through the use of their memory skills alone. In CCMT, we primarily use music that is unfamiliar to the child, in order to make the session interactive. Through this interaction, the therapist, Abigail Yeh, uses the music as a medium in which to motivate and/or challenge the child in their stated goal areas.

Each session is documented and analyzed, so that each session builds upon the previous session's progress.

The CCMT program has been effective in work with children with disabilities and needs such as:

Autistic Spectrum / PDD
Down Syndrome
Cerebral Palsy
Speech and Communication Disorders
ADD / ADHD
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
and more ...

Individual Sessions

Vocal and instrumental improvisation is used to stimulate communication between the child and therapist in the context of a therapeutic relationship. As therapy proceeds, individualized themes and songs are developed that form the foundation for spontaneous expression. Through this process, the child's unique goals are addressed.

Sessions are approximately 30 minutes long and are held once a week.

Group Sessions

Children are involved in musical activities selected to address specific clinical goals. Each musical composition or improvisation is designed to facilitate group participation, collaboration, turn-taking, negotiating, and social integration. All groups are designed with each child's unique abilities and needs in mind. Groups in the CCMT program are composed of 2 to 4 children.

Sessions are approximately 30-35 minutes long and are held once a week.

What Parents Are Saying:
"Since coming to music therapy, I've found that Andrew communicates so much more with me and his father. Although he seemed to prefer staying in his own isolated world before, now he is beginning to play and interact with his family!"
"Mary's physical balance has increased tremendously since working with you. The music therapy has encouraged her to use both arms together, and now she is more successful at home too! It's been so important for her in developing an awareness of her whole body."
"Rashad's self-confidence has developed greatly since coming to music therapy. Whereas he used to talk in a whisper, and walked with his head down, now he comes to the music room with a big smile!"