Music Therapy in the Area of Conflict between Functional and Psychotherapeutic Approach within the Field of Neurology/Neurorehabilitation

Abstract

Following a research study on the “evaluation of music therapy in German neurorehabilitation centres,” the question of an indication catalogue for music therapy within the field of neurology/neurorehabilitation will be discussed. After a short summary over differing music therapy concepts within this field which concentrate on physical, sensorial, cognitive, communicative, social, and emotional aspects, an overview of indications for all six fields of damage is presented. If the improvement of the patient's quality of life is seen as a common goal, treatment following only one aspect of normally simultaneously damaged aspects, might fail to meet the patient's needs. If therapeutic interventions are adapting flexibly to the changing needs of the patient, only he and not a frame of concept is actually of central concern. If functional training is to be combined with emotional and communicative/relational approaches, ethical and relational questions have to be discussed.

Keywords:

• music therapy
• neurorehabilitation
• sensorimottor training
• cognitive stimulation
• coping
• emotional stabilisation