Bio-Guided Music Therapy

Book excerpt: Bio-Guided Music Therapy explores the clinical integration of music and biofeedback, providing the practitioner with a rationale, historical context and detailed step-by-step instructions for implementing real-time physiological data driven music therapy. This practical guide introduces the fundamental principles of biofeedback and explores the use of music therapy interventions in the context of achieving skills in self-regulation of physiological response. The book looks at the primary modalities of biofeedback, in conjunction with the assignment of digitally sampled musical voices to specific body functions. Additional music therapy interventions discussed include guided imagery to music, toning, mantra meditation, drumming and improvisation. We see how physiological data taken in the moment and combined with music therapy techniques, may be successfully applied to the treatment of stress, anxiety, high blood pressure, chronic pain, dementia, migraine, ADHD and addictions. Instructive and accessible, this book will prove an essential resource for students and practitioners of music therapy, biofeedback practitioners, social workers, psychologists and healing arts professionals.