Eating disorders affect a huge number of people across Northern Ireland, and the impact on individuals and their families is huge. Living with an eating disorder can affect every aspect of your life and how you see yourself and the world.
One of our therapists was working with a client whose self-esteem and confidence had been severely impacted by an eating disorder. In the first music therapy session the client only engaged in passive listening, but as the weeks progressed and trust grew in the therapist, she began to use her voice to express herself through singing along with the therapist. As the client’s self-esteem and confidence increased she chose to sing on her own with the therapist accompanying on piano, and by the end of her treatment programme she had progressed to writing her own songs about what she had been through and her road to recovery. In the client’s words she realised that she, ‘deserved to enjoy music again’.
Often music therapy is misunderstood as a clinical intervention, as what onlookers can’t see are the neurological changes that are occurring during the treatment process. The therapist will use a range of methodologies designed for each unique client, and no two treatment plans will be the same. Trust is earned from the client because the therapist will meet them where they are right now, not where a designated treatment plan says they should be.
If you know someone impacted by eating disorder, please get in touch with our team to find out more by emailing julie@nimusictherapytrust.co.uk
