STATE LAWMAKERS CONSIDER UPDATING LICENSURE FOR MUSIC THERAPISTS

State lawmakers have held a hearing on whether music therapists should be licensed in Pennsylvania. House Bill 1356 was the subject of a committee panel Tuesday that’s trying to determine whether to regulate the practice. People who do music therapy say it can be used in much the same way as other therapeutic relationships by addressing patients’ physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs. Some examples of the way it’s used include for children with cerebral palsy or those on the autism spectrum who learn motor and cognitive skills through non-verbal, musical cues. It can also be used by elderly clients or people with addictions as a way to improve memory or express frustration.