Music Therapy: What to Know

Key facts about this growing clinical field:

• Board certification requires a bachelor's degree in music therapy, 1,200 hours of clinical training, and a national exam
• Evidence-based — hundreds of peer-reviewed studies support music therapy for pain, anxiety, depression, stroke recovery, and neurodevelopmental disorders
• Active vs receptive — patients may play instruments, sing, or compose (active) or listen to carefully selected music (receptive)
• Individualized — music is tailored to each patient's diagnosis, preferences, and therapeutic goals.