Music Therapy...Calm Anxiety and Soothe The Soul
Patients and visitors at Longmont United Hospital are able to take advantage of live and recorded music pieces performed or prepared by a professional music therapist. From Bach and Mozart to James Taylor and Elton John, music therapy is available in the comfort of your patient room or in one of the relaxing common areas of Longmont United Hospital.
Evidence-based techniques such as songwriting, lyric discussion, music improvisation, guided imagery, visualization, instrument playing, music and psychotherapy and counseling, and music and movement can be utilized and tailored to meet individual patient needs. Patients can have a song written for them or simply have a music therapist visit and make music with them. Music therapy is used to reduce stress and anxiety levels, as well as pain perception during hospitalization.
Upon each visit, the music therapist will evaluate the patients’ needs, and determine treatment goals. Interventions such as Music Psychotherapy and Counseling will be utilized to facilitate and provide the following services to patients:
- pain management
- relaxation
- increased coping skills
- emotional expression
- normalization of environment
- create feelings of control within hospital setting
- reducing feelings of depression and anxiety
- creative expression
About Music Therapy
Music Therapy is the systematic application of music to positively influence physical, emotional, social and cognitive behavior. It uses specifically prescribed music interventions to aid an individual in achieving a specific therapeutic goal. Numerous medical studies show and suggest that music can:
- reduce blood pressure and heart and respiration rates
- decrease pain perception, levels of fear, stress and anxiety
- increase feelings of self-worth and reduce depression
- occupy some of the brain’s neurological pathways and reduce the number of neurotransmitters that are available to transmit pain messages
- reduce feelings of helplessness by giving the patient a sense of control in a setting that is often depersonalizing
- increase IGA levels (immune response indicators)
Volunteer Opportunities
Our music therapist also coordinates a volunteer program that offers community musicians opportunities to play for our staff, visitors and patients. Each volunteer must complete a training program that teaches techniques of assessing and selecting music appropriate to the moment. In this fashion, our live music provides a much more therapeutic value than simply playing recordings. For more information please contact Elizabeth Linder by phone 303.651.5384 or email elinder@luhcares.org.