Music therapy for children and adolescents – A brief overview

Abstract

Working with children and adolescents plays an important part in music therapy as a profession – not least because music is of great developmental psychological significance in childhood and adolescence. This article provides an introductury overview of music therapy practice and research in childhood and adolescence.

Music therapy is a safe and and generally well-accepted intervention. Research findings show that the highest quality of evidence for positive effects of music therapy has been found in autism spectrum and neonatal care. Music therapy with children and adolescents can act as an effective non-pharmacological alternative and complement to other disease-specific therapies.