Ester Pavlic
Music Therapist
What is Music Therapy?
Music Therapy is the use of music and/or of musical elements (sound, rythm, melody and harmony) by a credentialed music therapist, with a client or a group, through a predefined process directed towards promoting communication, interaction, learning, motor skills, expression, organization and other relevant therapeutic aims, in order to meet physical, emotional, mental, social and cognitive needs. Music therapy aims at developing patients’ potential and /or remaining functions, so that they may achieve a better integration on the personal and interpersonal plane, and therefore improve the quality of their life, through a prevention, rehabilitation or therapeutic process.
World Federation of Music Therapy, 1996
Whom is it directed to?
It is addressed to preschool and elementary school children, teenagers, adults, elderly people with neurologic and psychiatric conditions or disorders in the relational sphere.
What kind of treatment is available?
- Face to face individual sessions
- Small group sessions (3 to 6 people)
What techniques are employed?
Improptu Music Therapy is a technique based on sound & music impromptu, with easy-to-use instruments, aiming at creating a relationship between client and music therapist. It is focused on here and now, key principle of Daniel Stern’s psychological theory. It is advised for patients with difficulties in communicating and establishing relationships, for autistic children and children with attention and concentration disorders.
Individualized Music Listening is a technique that consists in listening personalized playlists, prepared in advance by the music therapist for each client, on the bases of specific personal goals. This technique is advised for people with mood disturbances, for elderly people suffering from dementia or Alzheimer’s, in order to reduce anxiety, strain and/or depression. It can be employed also as a pre- and post-natal pre-emptive means to develop and increase mother-infant interaction.