Psychological Therapies Service - Music Therapy (Galashiels) 

Psychological Services, Galashiels

What we do:
This service, provided by the Borders Primary Care NHS Trust, offers music therapy to the Borders population.

Area covered:
Borders-wide

About our services:

What is Music Therapy?
Music Therapy is a psychological intervention, where improvised music forms the basis of communication between the client and the therapist. In this way, a person has the opportunity to explore an alternative form of self-expression within the security of a safe and supporting therapeutic environment. Through the developing therapeutic relationship, clinical goals are pursued according to the client's needs. Music becomes a way of promoting change and can be seen as a means to a non-musical end. Music therapy can therefore be a helpful intervention for people who are unable to, or who have difficulty in talking about their problems or emotions.
Music Therapists are professionally trained musicians who undertake intensive postgraduate training over a number of years to be able to work with people in diverse clinical settings across the lifespan, in such areas as: child and adult mental health; primary care; learning disabilities; neuro-rehabilitation; cancer care.

Why might you see a Music Therapist?
Music Therapists work with people of all ages, with a wide range of health needs. These may include:

  • Elderly people with dementia
  • Children and adults who experience emotional difficulties
  • Adults who have a learning disability
  • People who have had traumatic brain injury or a stroke
  • People with a physical illness, such as cancer

Music therapists can be found working in day centres, hospitals, residential homes and out-patient departments.

What do Music Therapists do?
In the sessions the therapist encourages the client to use accessible instruments and the voice, to explore the world of sound and to develop a non-verbal channel of emotional communication. The therapist supports and encourages further interaction by responding musically to the client. Music therapy takes place on a regular basis and may continue for months, sometimes years, depending on the needs of the client. An assessment will initially be undertaken in order to gauge whether this type of intervention is appropriate for the person referred and to establish aims for on-going therapy, which may be on an individual or group basis.

The following examples illustrate key attributes of Music Therapy in some of the clinical areas:

  • A person with dementia has the opportunity: to use skills which remain intact, to regain a sense of identity, to express emotions, to maintain a sense of autonomy, have some control, to share life experiences.
  • For an adult who has a learning disability, music therapy may provide them with an alternative means of expression with which to join in two-way communication. The music may become an easier and more appropriate way of expressing emotions, as it is a non-verbal medium.
  • In the work with children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder, music therapy can be a useful early intervention with regards to developing skills in social interaction (turn-taking, sharing, eye contact) and heightening a child's self awareness and awareness of 'other'.

For adults who experience mental health problems, music therapy can provide an opportunity for channelling emotions, as well as to build self-confidence and self-esteem and to increase motivation to enhance quality of life.

Confidentiality:

  • All the information concerning your treatment will of course be treated as confidential.
  • Any information about you held on computer in this department conforms to the Data Protection Act 1998.
  • If you have any queries regarding confidentiality, do not hesitate to contact this department.

How to access our services:

Referral Guidelines:

  • Most referrals to this department are made either through your G.P., local Mental Health Team, doctors at the BGH or staff at Day Centres.
  • Once you have been referred you are placed on the waiting list for your particular area and informed by letter of the referral having been made to this department.
  • You will then receive an appointment letter around 2-4 weeks before your first appointment.
  • Please note that waiting times can be fairly lengthy for some areas. Please contact us to check on possible waiting times for your area.
  • If you have been referred to psychological services, please let us know of any changes in your circumstances, e.g. change of address as this helps to ensure no time is wasted in getting your appointment to you.

Staff List:
Sorry, no information is available on this subject.

Contact Details:
12/14 Roxburgh Street
Galashiels
TD1 1PF
01896 668821/28 General Tel.
01896 668834 Fax