Drum Therapy in Horsham
Overview
Drum Therapy® combines the principals of physical and cognitive functioning, and the art of drumming. It is used as an intervention to provide the special needs community with the opportunity to participate in creative, verbal, and non-verbal expression. Doctors, Psychologists, Neuroscientists, Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapists, Behavioral Therapists, and Special Education Teachers use Drum Therapy® to help children and adults with Autism, Dyslexia, Multiple Sclerosis, ADD/ADHD, Cerebral Palsy, Dyspraxia, ODD, Aspergers OCD, Tourette’s, Behavioral Issues, and other physical and developmental disabilities to develop Retention, Social Skill Interaction, Coordination, Self Esteem, Behavioral Modification, Sensory Integration, Fine Motor Skills, and Physical and Cognitive Functioning.
Drum Therapy® is comprised of both Cognitive Restructuring and Social Skills interventions, and are a valuable diagnostic tool in expanding physical, mental, emotional, social, and cognitive development. It combines visual, rhythmic, auditory, and verbal approaches to help participants meet the goals and objectives for improvement in fine motor skill, and physical and cognitive functioning. Participants grow both cognitively and emotionally, and gain self-esteem through the creative process of Drum Therapy.®
Drum Therapy® helps participants to learn problem-solving strategies, improve patience and perseverance, helps to develop coordination and retention, and nurtures social skills, sensitivity, cooperation, and conflict resolution. Drum Therapy® to develop Retention, Coordination, Social Skills, Sensory Integration, Fine Motor Skill, and Physical and Cognitive functioning, and is beneficial to all participants. The population targeted for these services are those special needs children and adults whose disability has effected, impacted, or reduced their physical and/or cognitive capabilities. It’s non-threatening, fun nature, makes it appealing to all age groups. Participant’s music abilities and works are not graded, and program modalities are specifically tailored to meet the specific needs of all participants.
Every participant can and does, grow from Drum Therapy® intervention. Participants in Drum Therapy® sessions might have experienced failure in their previous school classes and/or social settings, whether primarily because of behavioral problems, or a combination of their specific disability with a behavioral problem. As a result, these participants need to experience success, and will find success with Drum Therapy.® As physical and cognitive abilities grow, participants are anxious to return to Drum Therapy® sessions, and a trusting relationship is built between each participant and the Drum Therapist. This trusting relationship opens the door to communication, which becomes the foundation that allows for behavior modification and emotional healing to begin.
DRUM THERAPY® OBJECTIVES
DRUM THERAPY® HELPS ALL PARTICIPANTS TO:
1. Improve ability to identify feelings and behaviour.
2. Improve communication skills.
3. Channel cathartic release, or discharge strong feelings, safely through rhythm.
4. Gain valuable insight into their feelings and maladaptive thoughts.
5 Demonstrate improved fine motor skills, retention, and coordination.
6. Demonstrate improved psychomotor skills.
7. Demonstrate improved social skills through a combined group effort activity.
8. Gain self-esteem and self-confidence by being a major part of an artistic project.
9. Demonstrate improved frustration tolerance.
10. Develop personal expression through the creative art process.
TARGETED POPULATION
Drum Therapy® is beneficial to anyone who is exposed to it. The population targeted for these services are those special needs children and adults whose disability has effected, impacted, or reduced their physical and/or cognitive capabilities. It’s non-threatening, fun nature, makes it appealing to all age groups.
Participant’s drumming ability and works are not graded, and program modalities are specifically tailored to meet the specific needs of each participant. The program does not require the student to have specific drumming skills or talent, and can be held in a one on one format, or in a group setting.
Drum Therapy® Intervention programs are held in School Systems, Health Facilities, Hospitals, and Community Centers throughout the world.
THERAPEUTIC COMPONENT
Drum Therapy® is a psycho-educational intervention which gives a participant the opportunity to express themselves in an emotionally safe, non-threatening environment. This process is in itself is highly therapeutic, but unlike participation in school classes or in social activities, participation in a Drum Therapy® session allows a participant to express anger, sorrow, or other related feelings which are “unacceptable” in traditional classes or social settings. Cathartic release of strong feelings such as hyperactivity, anger and fear are encouraged.
After or during a Drum Therapy® session, participants usually discuss their feelings with parents, friends, teachers, and/or counsellors. Drum Therapy® classes are held in high esteem, and confidentiality is ethically required, and is a part of the process.
Children who take part in Drum Therapy® sessions should be encouraged to talk with their parents and/or counsellors about their feelings. When this occurs, the Drum Therapist is usually contacted by the parent and/or counsellor to find out how they can all work together to help the child. This positive interaction enables the Drum Therapist to recognize the issue(s) that the child needs to work through. The Drum Therapist will then design specific Drum Therapy® classes which meet a child’s individual emotional needs. As a result, the Drum Therapist becomes a friend, counsellor, and trusted confidante of the child, and the Drum Therapy® environment becomes a “safe haven,” where a student can have fun, be relaxed, achieve great things, and be the best they can be.