DOES ART, MUSIC AND RECREATION HAVE A ROLE IN THERAPY?
Activities such as dancing, singing, creating art, or musical games are examples of interventions within therapy.
WHO NEEDS RECREATIONAL THERAPY?
Art, music and recreational therapy can be part of a treatment plan for children and young adults with disabilities. We use art, music, and movement as part of a comprehensive program that would include one-on-one sessions or small group sessions, The benefits include:
- Explores feelings
- Increases self-esteem
- Reconciles emotional conflicts
- Reduces anxiety
- Provides new communication modes
- Provides appropriate outlet for behaviors
- Addresses sensory needs
- Improves reality orientation
- Develops social skills
- Manages behaviors
- Enhances body image perceptions
- Improves gross/fine motor skills
- Prevents social isolation
- Develops/maintains social skills
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF ART, MUSIC, OR RECREATION THERAPY?
Benefits of these alternate therapy modes can be applied throughout a lifetime!
Recreational therapy, including art therapy and music therapy, provide individuals with opportunities to help maintain physical, social, cognitive, and emotional functioning. These four ‘life domains’ are treated through therapeutic interventions that support past and present leisure interests. Recreation therapy provides services that are based on the individual’s lifestyle, allowing the recreation specialist to better engage in therapeutic techniques by applying functional improvements to all areas in the individual’s life. Ongoing treatment provides a health-focused approach to the individual and seeks to keep clients active, healthy and as independent as possible.
Recreational therapy serves a variety of populations including those receiving supplemental PALCO and Desert Regional Center (DRC) services in the state of Nevada. The most common populations served are individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities including Autism, Down syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, TBI, and mild/moderate/severe intellectual disabilities.
Recreational therapy sessions start out as one-on-one sessions and can develop to become group-based, depending on the activity and client preference. A typical session ranges from 60-120 minutes and includes indoor and outdoor activities based on the client’s lifestyle and interests. The recreational therapist will lead you through interventions that are challenging but leave you feeling mentally and/or physically stronger and accomplished.
What about art therapy or music therapy?
Music therapy will utilize music as a therapeutic medium to work with individuals and families to reach non-music related goals. Music therapy is used to establish a research-based treatment plan that focuses on individual- and family-specific areas of need. Our therapists will formulate short and long-term goals that are achieved through physical, social, emotional, and cognitive related objectives.
Primary instruments include piano, voice, guitar, and handheld percussion instruments.
Art Therapy is an integrative mental health and human services profession that enriches the lives of individuals, families, and communities through active art-making, creative process, applied psychological theory, and human experience within a psychotherapeutic relationship.
Recreation, music, and art therapy effectively support personal and relational treatment goals as well as community concerns. It is also used to improve cognitive and sensory-motor functions, foster self-esteem and self-awareness, cultivate emotional resilience, promote insight, enhance social skills, reduce and resolve conflicts and distress, and advance
societal change.
READY TO GET STARTED?
Let us know how we can help!
HAVE MORE QUESTIONS?
Let’s start with a free consultation. With so many therapies offered, a simple conversation will identify your child’s skill levels and needs. Alternate therapies can be a lot of fun, so be prepared for some fun ideas and concepts…and a ton of really cute refrigerator art! Head to our Contact page!
Well of course they can, provided some simple rules are followed. Art, music, and recreational therapies are best done in person. We are located in Las Vegas, Nevada and travel throughout Nevada and Arizona, but we can tele-meet with ANY individual or group!
Most of the time, yes, they can. We find activities that last 60 – 90 minutes are a great place to start, and many children prefer to rotate between art, music, and recreation activities.
With all our services, the first consultation is complimentary – as in FREE. When we determine your child’s needs and your goals we can arrange for your first session. The cost of art, music, or recreational therapy varies with the number of hours per week or month you’d like, but you will never pay more than a dollar a minute! Give us a call for more information!