Music Therapy and Neurodiversity

In recent years there has been a shift in the way many music therapists are choosing to work with individuals who identify as neurodivergent. Traditionally, music therapists worked alongside other health professionals trained in the medical model where differences in nervous systems were labelled as disorders such as Autism Spectrum ‘Disorder’ and ADHD. Here, music therapists would aim to support people by either changing their bahaviour (a behaviourist approach in line with the controversial ABA therapy) or to address the natural challenges that people with disability face in a neuronormative world, such as regulating mood and anxiety driven by sensory and social challenges.

Today, the emergence of the neurodiversity paradigm has filtered through into the way many music therapists have challenged these approaches and consciously made changes to how they approach their work. Forms of neurodivergence including but not limited to Autism, ADHD, Dyslexia, Sensory Processing Differences and High Sensitivity are viewed as a natural and imperative variation of the human nervous system just as variation occurs in every living species. Here, music is then seen as a way to bring about a meaningful relationship between client and therapist, and can provide the mode for deep connection, validation, self exploration and growth. Goals in this realm are no longer connected to changing the individual, but supporting them in the natural life-long growth that all beings engage in.

At Melodic Fox Music Therapy, I am committed to understanding and constantly deepening my understanding of what it means to be human, including all the variations of human that come within neurodiversity. I aim to support people to feel valued for who they are and to support them to reach their own goals for personal growth, through music.

No AI was used in the generation of this post.