What Does Telehealth Music Remedy Look Like?

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What Does Telehealth Music Remedy Look Like?

by Taylor Cockrum, MT-BC

Over the previous couple of years, our world has grow to be more and more extra conversant in video calling. Conferences and appointments are sometimes carried out on-line relatively than in particular person, remedy included! So what does remedy – particularly music remedy – appear to be through telehealth? How does that even work?

I’ll admit that I used to be as soon as amongst those that have been hesitant about digital music remedy companies. When the pandemic began, my coworkers and I have been caught at a standstill. We have been very not sure how we have been going to proceed seeing our shoppers to offer music remedy. Now, digital music remedy classes are the one kind of classes I present! Not solely do my shoppers proceed to expertise progress and profit from telehealth music remedy, however I really take pleasure in being a telehealth music therapist.

Let’s check out the essential necessities you want with the intention to take part in telehealth music remedy:

At the beginning, you have to a machine with a working digital camera and dependable web. This machine may very well be a desktop pc, laptop computer pc, a pill, or perhaps a telephone! If you wish to get fancy, you can use headphones or a desktop microphone for sound readability, however this isn’t normally required as most gadgets have ample microphones. 

TIP: You could possibly entry a tool without spending a dime at your faculty, workplace, and even your native library. Simply make sure you ask for a convention room, Zoom room, or one other quiet house so to shield your confidentiality and totally take pleasure in your session.

 

Your board-certified music therapist will use a HIPAA-compliant video platform equivalent to Zoom, Google Meet or Doxy.me. They’ll most probably textual content, electronic mail, or ship you a calendar invite that incorporates a hyperlink to your session. Chances are you’ll need to click on that hyperlink a couple of minutes upfront, simply in case you might be prompted to obtain any apps or updates. Many hyperlinks will open in a browser, although! 

Relying in your help wants, chances are you’ll ask a buddy, member of the family, or a paraprofessional to be current in your telehealth music remedy session. In the event you want hands-on help for bodily wants, communication, or some other motive, it might be helpful for this particular person to stay close by to help all through the session. Duties they might presumably help with embody establishing the machine, logging onto the session, adjusting quantity controls, guaranteeing the digital camera is angled towards you, or retrieving musical devices or different provides, amongst different issues. This particular person can even get you arrange after which go away the room till your session is full.

TIP: Your therapist needs to see you! You ought to be centered within the display screen from waist to chest up the place we are able to see your torso, face, and arms. Typically furnishings, wheelchairs, or the house in an setting could make this difficult, so clearly there are exceptions. 

 

In case your help particular person stays within the room, many telehealth music therapists are snug talking to and directing help individuals as wanted (e.g., “Hey John, Miss SuzAnne goes to carry up a shaker and a bell. Attain for the one you need!” Or, “Miss Karen, will you progress Jessica’s digital camera to the left so we are able to see their face extra clearly?”) If you don’t want your music therapist to talk on to your help particular person, positively allow them to know! We’re there to help you and honor your autonomy. 

Throughout telehealth music remedy classes, your board-certified music therapist will do nearly something that they’d do in particular person with some modifications. You’ll possible expertise the therapist enjoying reside, client-preferred music through guitar, ukulele, or keyboard, whereas encouraging the consumer to take part. Participation varies relying in your targets and aims, however may embody: physique percussion (clapping, patting legs, snapping), enjoying devices (we typically mail our shoppers a number of devices if there are none at house, however don’t be afraid to get artistic! Keys jingle, spices shake, and bowls make nice drums!), singing alongside, and discussing music. Music therapists may additionally use visuals, movies, recorded music, books, puppets – you identify it – to take care of engagement and optimize profit. We might even compose songs with you! We frequently use shared screens to compose lyrics, lay down some tracks in GarageBand, or to mess around in Chrome Music Lab collectively.

Relying on how your classes are funded, chances are you’ll be requested to signal a doc or ship an electronic mail or textual content affirmation every week confirming that your music remedy session occurred through telehealth. Your therapist will assist you navigate that if it applies to your scenario ( you, CLASS Medicaid Waiver of Texas!).

Whereas there are apparent variations between in-person and telehealth music remedy companies, music therapists have grown and expanded our digital repertoire to accommodate and profit as many individuals as potential over the previous few years. Nonetheless, we do acknowledge that teletherapy will not be applicable for everybody. The commonest limitations we now have run into embody poor web connection because of geographic location, restricted entry to non-public areas for classes, and essential help individuals being unavailable throughout session occasions. 

Throughout the peak of the pandemic, Coronary heart and Concord Music Remedy was completely offering telehealth classes for a full yr with a whole lot of consumer classes every week. We have been pleasantly shocked by the overwhelming flexibility and constructive responses from our shoppers and their households! Positive, issues look somewhat totally different in a post-pandemic world, however music therapists are educated to be adaptable and supply probably the most supportive setting potential to succeed in consumer enchancment and success. Telehealth music remedy is a viable possibility for a lot of shoppers, making music remedy extra accessible than ever.

Pontificate!

What’s your favourite exercise in your telehealth music remedy classes?

 

 

Taylor Cockrum, MT-BC

Music Therapist – Board Licensed

taylor@heartandharmony.com

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