Training or psychotherapy: how to integrate two poles of music therapeutic aims in neurological rehabilitation

Abstract

Introduction: Body and mind cannot be separated. Especially in health care, it could be shown that both aspects affect each other. According to this reciprocity, two treatments of music therapy can be found in the field of Neurological Rehabilitation: (1) Functional Training to improve functional, sensoric and cognitive deficits and (2) Psychotherapeutic-oriented treatments including aspects of experience and resources.Method: Based on literature research and case studies, this presentation illustrates how both treatments can be integrated in the rehabilitation process with neurologically damaged patients.Discussion: The decision which treatment is used depends on the knowledge of the music therapist, the patient–therapist relationship and the patient`s need. Preliminary findings in literature show two ways of integration: the structured and the process-oriented way. In the latter case, music therapeutic objectives can change during one therapy session. However, there are also limits in applying both trea...