Child Centered Music Therapy (CCMT)

Child Centered Music Therapy is specifically designed for children with special needs. Therapists specializing in CCMT come from diverse backgrounds in music therapy education and training, focusing on children with special needs. CCMT is aimed at discovering the unique potentials in every child through the interactive use of live music to stimulate and develop communication, expressiveness, socialization, relationship and build self-esteem.

In creating a nonjudgmental, emotionally supportive therapeutic atmosphere, with clear boundaries that provide the child with a sense of security, the child can learn emotional and behavioral self-regulation while developing expressive freedom and creativity.

Various instruments which require no skill or experience are used by the child while the therapist creates music on the piano or guitar that engages, matches, supports, and enhances the child’s playing. The therapist and child develop various musical themes based on here-and-now experiences. The musical themes are then brought back into following sessions to be developed. Within the co-created musical themes, clinical goals and treatment plans are developed by the therapist. The approach is unique in its ability to tap into the musical "being" of the child, an area that is rarely tapped in traditional education.

Goals May Include: Increased expressive and receptive language, increased attention span, improved cognitive mastery and organizational skills, improved fine and gross motor skills, improved impulse control and reduced hyperactivity, increased frustration tolerance, improved communication and socialization skills, increased self esteem, and enhanced sense of self and others.

"We provide an environment in which educational and therapeutic goals are supported through the joy of interactive music making."

Individual Sessions: Vocal and instrumental improvisation are used to stimulate communication between the child and therapist in the context of a therapeutic relationship. As therapy proceeds, individualized themes and songs are developed which form the foundation for spontaneous expression. Depending on the needs of child, sessions can be conducted by a team of two therapists; one of whom is primarily responsible for providing the music, while the other facilitates the child’s musical participation.

Group Sessions: Children are involved in musical activities selected to address specific clinical goals. Each musical composition or improvisation is designed to facilitate group participation, collaboration, turn-taking, negotiating, and social integration. Close teamwork between the two therapists stimulates and supports the children’s involvement.

"What really amazed us is Jimmy’s increased level of responsiveness. It's obvious to his dad and me that you have a special gift, and more important we feel that our son has a connection with you."

"The program itself is amazing! For kids like Johnny the main goals are to use music to help him with socialization and communication. And we have seen a big improvement in Johnny since starting the program."

"Since starting the program, Russell's ability to appropriately participate in conversation, his attention span and his ability to focus has improved tremendously. Our son has benefited greatly from your program and we plan to continue his therapy as long as necessary. Congratulations to The Rebecca Center for designing such a wonderful and beneficial program!"

"Nicole is so much more related. Her receptive language has improved tremendously, and because of it, her expressive language has exploded. We can now communicate through words!"

Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy

Within our CCMT program, we offer Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy. Nordoff-Robbins therapists have post-graduate advanced clinical training in the Nordoff-Robbins Approach. Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapists are highly skilled in the application of clinically directed improvised music to reach and help children develop their developmental potentials.

Defined by Dr. Paul Nordoff and Dr. Clive Robbins, the approach is based upon the belief that there is an inborn musicality residing in every human being that can be activated in the service of personal growth and development. This self-actualizing potential is most effectively awakened through the use of improvisational music in which the individual's innate creativity is used to overcome emotional, physical, and cognitive difficulties. In this form of co-creative endeavor, children take an active role in creating music together with their therapists on a variety of standard and specialized instruments. In all of its applications, this work emphasizes the potency of individualized musical experiences as a means of developing relationship and the inner resources of children. Music and musical experience are the primary areas in which the therapist intervenes and in which the child's development takes place.

"Nonverbal communication between an autistic child playing the drums and a therapist on the piano can serve to bring an autistic child out of isolation."

- American Medical Association