Understanding Music Therapy: Uses, Benefits, and Options in Hong Kong

As the name suggests, music therapy uses music to improve emotional wellbeing, motor function and cognitive ability. Whether you have cancer, traumatic brain injury, chronic pain, depression, anxiety, suffered from a stroke, or are overall healthy, music therapy can help to reduce stress and increase feelings of joy.

In this article, you will learn about music therapy, who it’s for, its benefits, what music therapists do, what to expect in a music therapy session, and whether music therapy is covered by insurance. You’ll also find a list of registered music therapists in Hong Kong.

What is music therapy?

Music therapy is a professional therapy recognized in over 40 countries. Based on clinical research and driven by evidence, this form of creative-arts therapy uses music and musical experiences to address the cognitive, social, communication, emotional, and physical needs of individuals and groups, regardless of their musical skill or background.

Music therapists help clients who may be struggling with anxiety, grief, or depression, or those needing rehabilitation after suffering from a stroke, traumatic brain injury or Alzheimer’s. Music therapists can also help clients with stress management, pain alleviation, memory enhancement, and improving mental health and wellness.

What are the benefits of music therapy?

There are five main areas that music therapy can address: cognitive, social, communication, emotional, and physical. A growing body of research demonstrates that music therapy has the following benefits:

• Improves self-regulation
• Improves depressive symptoms
• Improves the immune system
• Improves muscle control
• Induces relaxation
• Improves learning ability
• Decreases anxiety and pain
• Lowers blood pressure
• Increases the production of oxytocin and decreases stress-induced hormones
• Increases dopamine production (the “feel-good” neurotransmitter)

Who is music therapy for?

Music therapy can be beneficial for people of all ages and abilities, from children to the elderly, whether they are struggling with an illness or overall quite healthy.

Since music therapy can help with so many factors of a person’s wellbeing, it can be used as part of an integrative care plan to treat many types of people, for example:

• People with mental health disorders. Helps with communication and expression and improve concentration and mood.
• People with Alzheimer’s disease. Helps with memory and creates a sense of familiarity and security.
• People with Parkinson’s disease. Improves motor function and the emotional and cognitive system.
• People who have experienced trauma or crisis. Helps with anxiety, stress and emotional pain, and improves your mood, confidence and sense that you are in control.
• People suffering from chronic pain. Helps decrease pain, fatigue, anxiety and depression.
• People who have had traumatic brain injury. Improves memory, attention and behavior, as well as gait and walking speed.
• People who have had a stroke. Improves brain and motor function.
• People who are physically ill. Alleviate pain and improves emotional wellbeing for patients with cancer or diabetes.

What is a music therapist?

Music therapists are healthcare professionals who provide therapeutic care to clients using music. In Hong Kong, music therapists can be registered with the Hong Kong Music Therapy Association (HKMTA).

Music therapists receive training and accreditation from bodies such as the Canadian Association for Music Therapy, the Certified Board for Music Therapists (United States), the Health and Care Professions Council (United Kingdom) and the Australian Music Therapy Association. They are bound by the codes of ethics of their registration bodies.

What to expect at a music therapy session

Music therapy is offered in individual or group sessions. Before a session, the music therapist might work closely with their clients to understand their needs and circumstances and design a suitable treatment plan.

During a music therapy session, you might:

• Listen to music
• Sing a song
• Play musical instruments
• Discuss song lyrics
• Compose music
• Move to music (tapping toes, clapping hands, dance)

Music therapy isn’t limited to any particular style or practice. And it doesn’t matter if you have no prior musical background, skills or knowledge.

After a session, the music therapist will assess the effectiveness of the session against the established goals. It might take multiple sessions for a client to experience significant improvements to their health and wellness.

Music therapy vs. Occupational therapy vs. Physiotherapy

Music therapy, occupational therapy and physiotherapy are all forms of therapeutic care that might be part of a patient’s integrated care plan.

Music therapy Objective: To improve overall wellness and quality of life. Who it’s for: People affected by disability, injury or illness, along with healthy people.

Occupational therapy Objective: To improve gross and fine motor skills so that person can perform daily tasks smoothly. Who it’s for: People affected by disability, injury or illness.

Physiotherapy Objective: To improve movement and mobility and treat specific injuries Who it’s for: People affected by disability, injury or illness.

Does health insurance cover music therapy?

Unfortunately, music therapy is not currently covered by medical insurance plans in Hong Kong. However, the growing popularity and rising demand for creative therapies in Hong Kong give us hope that music therapy may one day be covered. If you have any medical insurance questions or want to learn more about mental health insurance cover, contact Alea’s health insurance experts at hello@alea.care.

How Alea can help you save on insurance

Options and costs in Hong Kong

Music therapy in Hong Kong ranges from HK$320 to $1,100 per session (30 to 60 minutes). Please note that there may be add-on costs for any special treatment required.

Below are the contact details for some music therapy providers in Hong Kong.

The website for the Hong Kong Music Therapy Association has a full list of music therapists registered in Hong Kong.