Music therapists can read minds. Can cure without words or medicine.
And I promise they are not magic, merely superhuman.
Music therapy is the purposeful use of musical stimuli to pursue therapeutic goals. Being at least 35,000 years old, music has been a constant part of our human experience. It transcends language.
Latha, the CEO of the Drugs and Alcohol Foundation (DAF), uses music as a part of her work in the DAF, and she affirmed, “Music has always touched everybody. ”“No one has resistance to music,” she said.
That’s what makes music therapy so effective for non-verbal or neurodivergent patients. Music is the essence of music therapy, and what music therapists wield every day in their work, guiding those with unique psychologies and helping those who struggle to communicate. Some people respond to this therapy, this medium, and no other. That makes the work of music therapists irreplaceable.
Despite the lack of recognition, this industry is not frivolous. It’s real and it has a real impact.
Two months ago, an Australian publication posted a story about Evie: “Every day, sounds like barking dogs would dysregulate Evie, who is autistic. [Music therapy] has helped her gain communication skills and learn how to regulate emotions.”
From personal experience volunteering in one such clinic, another example is of James, who started music therapy two years ago, at which time he was almost entirely non-verbal. Now with the help of a music therapist with the special tools to guide him, he developed the confidence to speak and even sing.
As effective as cognitive or speech therapy can be, music therapy introduces a toolset that is just not found in our traditional medical framework. Despite the good it does, music therapists are fighting a system that doesn’t recognise or appreciate their work.
Since its conception, the music therapy industry has struggled with a fundamental lack of appreciation, which not only discourages industry growth but also results in a lack of funding. Two months ago, the Australian Guardian posted the article “Nineteen-year-old communicates with her friends and family through music – but a government policy change is threatening that vital human connection.”
In 2024, the National Disability Insurance Agency announced it planned to cut funding for music therapy in Australia because “it did not meet the evidentiary standards to be classified as ‘therapy,’ despite being an evidence-based practice.
The pull in funding is predicted to result in the closure of many clinics across the country and the loss of many jobs.
The lack of appreciation is what is strangling this industry.
Because of this lack of recognition, there will be people like Evie left untreated.
As put by Latha, “It’s high time we start valuing it”.
Despite their work being “only seen as secondary therapy,” music therapists are working near miracles every day, changing lives:
“‘She couldn’t walk, she couldn’t talk: music therapy helped Joni Mitchell recover from a stroke.”
“This therapy is helping Max walk.”
“Music therapy is the highlight of four-year-old Kai Wall’s week.”
Maybe music therapy is a little magic after all.
Citations
Buchecker, S. (2024). Future of music therapy NDIS funding in doubt as review announced. [online] Abc.net.au. Available at: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-12-21/music-therapy-ndis-funding-in-doubt-as-review-announced/104735720. [Accessed 17 Feb. 2025].
Campanella, N. and Branley, A. (2024). Bill Shorten flags NDIS changes to music and art therapy funding. [online] Abc.net.au. Available at: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-11-26/ndis-funding-for-disability-music-therapy-set-to-change/104646988. [Accessed 17 Feb. 2025].
Canales, S.B. (2024). ‘It would deflate our world’: how NDIS cuts to music therapy may silence Ava’s voice. [online] the Guardian. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/dec/19/ndis-cuts-music-therapy-ndia-bill-shorten-review. [Accessed 17 Feb. 2025].
Kavanagh, D. (2024). ‘Nowhere else to go’: Cuts to music therapy to leave young NDIS participants in limbo. [online] CYDA. Available at: https://cyda.org.au/nowhere-else-to-go-cuts-to-music-therapy-to-leave-young-ndis-participants-in-limbo/ [Accessed 17 Feb. 2025].
NDIS.gov.au. (2024). Statement – NDIS funded music and art therapy | NDIS. [online] Available at: https://www.ndis.gov.au/news/10522-statement-ndis-funded-music-and-art-therapy. [Accessed 17 Feb. 2025].
Shariatmadari, D. (2025). ‘She couldn’t walk, she couldn’t talk’: music therapy helped Joni Mitchell recover from a stroke – could it ward off depression and dementia too? [online] the Guardian. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/jan/18/she-couldnt-walk-she-couldnt-talk-music-therapy-helped-joni-mitchell-recover-from-a-stroke-could-it-ward-off-depression-and-dementia-too?utm_source=chatgpt.com. [Accessed 17 Feb. 2025].
Oxford Reference. (2013). Blog. [online] Available at: https://www.oxfordreference.com/display/10.1093/acref/9780195314281.001.0001/acref-9780195314281-e-5881. [Accessed 17 Feb. 2025].
Nithyanandam, L. (2025). Interview by Dhanya Vasanta (In Person), 17 February.
