Dr. Elizabeth Kay
Certified Music and Voice Therapist
Music and Voice Therapy
Children | Youth | Adults
What are Music and Voice Therapy?
Music and voice therapy are unique creative and expressive therapies that integrate the clinical and evidenced-based use of music and vocal interventions to accomplish personal goals. Music therapy is a well-established health profession recognized by the Health Ministry and may only be administered by a certified professional in the field. It involves an interpersonal process during which the therapist incorporates music or vocality therapeutically to improve emotional, social, behavioral, cognitive or physical functioning. At the core of every session is any number of musical and/or vocal experiences which the therapist designs according to the goals of each specific therapy. These may include: musical improvisation (using instruments and/or the voice), singing, breathwork, creating music, songwriting, individualized listening experiences, symbolic use of musical instruments, musical guided imagery, therapeutic voicework and more.
Parental guidance and supervision for educational and professional staff are further provided.
What are the Therapeutic Goals?
The goals of music and voice therapy are determined according to the needs and abilities of the client. They are varied and may include: emotional expression, emotional regulation, promoting interpersonal communication, improving social skills, empowerment and improving self esteem, enhancing self awareness, memory preservation and enhancement (Dementia and Alzheimer's), promoting personal insights, stress and pain reduction, obtaining tools to deal with anxiety or additional difficulties. Additional goals may include the development of creativity, musical abilities and the voice in unique ways, personally tailored to each individual.
Voice therapy further treats pathological vocal issues that stem from an emotional or physical origin. Such issues may include: Hoarseness, stuttering, selective mutism, vocal blockages, asthma, speech delay, vocal disturbances and aphasia following stroke as well as impairment of vocal quality, regulation, expression of emotions and more.
Why Music and/or Voice?
Music and singing both provide pleasure and relief. They motivate and inspire. They possess the ability to stimulate or to calm and encourage the expression of emotions. The human voice is infinitely variable. It can reflect any physical, emotional or mental state. Music and vocality allow us to access emotions naturally and directly and thereby bypass rigid defense mechanisms. They are powerful therapeutic mediums yet are not perceived as threatening and are not stigmatized. This makes them highly effective in gaining client participation and in circumventing resistance (even in the most difficult of cases). An additional advantage is that sound and the human voice are pre-verbal communication tools and are thereby not dependent on language or limited to words. As such, they may be used therapeutically to reach beyond words even with those who are non-verbal or verbally restricted.
Who May Benefit from the Treatment?
Music and voice therapy are suitable for individuals of all ages: children, adolescents, students, adults and seniors. Among the wide variety of difficulties treated are emotional, behavioral, social, developmental, neurological and vocal conditions.
The love of music and/or singing, the ability to enjoy it, and the willingness to express yourself through it are important criteria in considering if this therapy could benefit you or your child. I assess every individual’s suitability to the therapy through an introductory session. No prior musical or vocal training is necessary.
Location
The Lord Taylor Music and Voice Therapy Clinic,
conveniently located at the David Yellin College of Education.
Address: 7 Ma'agal Beit HaMidrash st., Beit Hakerem, Jerusalem.
* Also available online *
For additional details and to schedule an introductory session please contact:
Dr. Elizabeth Kay
Tel. 054-4515021
musictherapyk@gmail.com