About

Kamal is a Clinical Music Therapist grounded in a client-centered, empowerment-based philosophy. He holds a postgraduate qualification in Music Therapy from The Music Therapy Trust in New Delhi. His professional experience (includes) working with Learning/Developmental Disability, Alzheimer’s, Autism, Mental health, and children who have cancer and their families. He has worked in Muskaan (Delhi), St.Judes (Noida), Sunshine Autism Trust (Bangalore) and currently works in the Bubbles Center for Autism and Nightingales Medical Trust in Bangalore.

His professional and personal focus is on enabling a space for change and growth through creativity, self expression and musical improvisation. In his sessions Kamal uses Guitar, Voice, Percussion instruments and various other instruments/musical toys.

Before we explain what Clinical Music Therapy is, it is important to note that the patient does not need to have any musical training, talent or background.

Clinical Music Therapy is based on the understanding that the ability to respond to music is an inborn quality in all human beings. This ability usually remains unaffected by impairments, injury or illness and is not dependent on musical training.

It is the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualised goals within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional who has completed an approved music therapy program. Music is used to address behavioural, physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of individuals of all ages, improving quality of life for persons who are well and meeting the needs of children and adults with disabilities or illnesses. Music therapy interventions can be designed to promote wellness, self expression, confidence, manage stress and trauma, alleviate pain, enhance memory, improve communication, improve overall quality of life and provide unique opportunities for interaction.

Scientific research in music therapy supports the effectiveness of interventions in many areas such as facilitating movement and overall physical rehabilitation, increasing motivation to engage in treatment, providing emotional support for clients and their families, and creating an outlet for expression of feelings.

HOW IT WORKS:

Before beginning sessions, it is imperative for the therapist to assess the clients’ strengths, needs, emotional well-being, physical health, social functioning, communication abilities, and cognitive skills. The therapist does this through interviewing, listening to and observing responses. The therapist then develops a treatment plan with goals and objectives within a set time frame. Depending upon the needs of the clients involved, music therapy sessions are offered on an individual or group basis.

Strategies are designed based on the clients’ holistic needs, using music improvisation, song writing, lyric discussion, music and imagery, music listening techniques, and learning through music; and they encourage client involvement in creative and expressive strategies that will help enhance overall functioning, well being and quality of life. Sessions commonly include the clients’ caregivers when appropriate.

Music therapy is often used as complimentary therapy and therapists regularly participate along side medical practitioners and contribute to treatment planning, evaluation, and follow up.

WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM MUSIC THERAPY?

Anyone regardless of age or gender, who maybe experiencing the regular stresses of daily life,  anxiety, depression, emotional distress or trauma of any kind.

Working as a medium of communication Clinical Music Therapy can help children, adolescents and adults with varied mental health and emotional needs, Autism spectrum disorder, Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, stress-related symptoms, substance abuse problems, Cerebral palsy and developmental and learning disabilities.

Patients with medical illnesses like cancer, cardiopulmonary disease, physical disabilities, end-stage illnesses, brain injuries and those under coma.

Women in need of  pre and post natal care and patients needing pre and post surgical care.

Elderly with diseases like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and other ageing-related conditions.

HISTORY OF MUSIC THERAPY AS A HEALTH CARE PROFESSION:

The idea of music as a healing influence that could affect health and behaviour is as least as old as the writings of Aristotle and Plato. The 20th century discipline began after World War I and World War II when community musicians of all types, both amateur and professional, went to Veterans Administration hospitals around the country to play for the thousands of veterans experiencing both physical and emotional trauma from the wars. The patients’ notable physical and emotional positive responses to music led the doctors and nurses to request the hiring of musicians by the hospitals. It was soon evident that the hospital musicians needed some prior training before entering the facility and so the demand grew for a college curriculum. The first music therapy degree program in the world, founded at Michigan State University in 1944, celebrated its 50th anniversary in 1994. The American Music Therapy Association was founded in 1998 as a union of the National Association for Music Therapy and the American Association for Music therapy. The Canadian Association for Music Therapy was founded in 1974. The Music Therapy Trust in India was founded in 2005.