Telehealth Services - A Success Story!
Edge Water MT truly values the flexibility of our clients and therapists! Before the covid-19 outbreak began, this client received music therapy services in her home to work on goals such as reciprocal communication and social skills. Services then moved smoothly to telehealth when the outbreak began and have continued online to address treatment goals.
In this photo taken prior to the covid-19 outbreak, you'll see her and her music therapist utilizing instrument play to practice taking turns, a skill that is foundational to addressing reciprocal communication. Her music therapist then utilized a steady drum beat to encourage a slowing of the client's rate of speech, and maintain engagement during a conversation about a client-preferred topic.
After switching to telehealth, this client and her music therapist utilized visual stories to learn about coronavirus and practice important safety skills such as hand-washing. Musical cueing was utilized to encourage hand-washing for 20 or more seconds by singing a client-preferred song and practicing hand washing movements.
In telehealth sessions, this client continues to work on reciprocal communication skills and social skills through musically prompted conversations. Musical stimuli including guitar accompaniment and steady drum beats act as both cues for turn taking in conversation, as well as means for maintaining attention.
Musically accompanied social stories are also utilized in these telehealth sessions to encourage understanding of the "new normal" we are experiencing and prompt conversation about life changes.
This client has continued to make progress in her goal areas, and has been an absolute rock star while adjusting to telehealth, we are so proud of her progress in her music therapy sessions!"