by Carmen Eisenhauer | April 22nd, 2020
“Neurologic Music Therapy (NMT) is an advanced and evidence-based music therapy practice
that is integrated into an interdisciplinary context of rehabilitation modalities. NMT is the culmination of music therapy, neurology, and brain science and is classified into 20 scientific and evidenced-based interventions. The techniques are applied using music and rhythm to directly affect speech, cognitive and physical function. Standard music therapy uses music to reach non-musical goals, the focus is usually on the social/emotional domain. NMT uses specific standardized clinical techniques supported by scientific evidence. The 20 techniques are the clinical core of NMT and are defined by diagnostic treatment goals. NMT employs Therapeutic Music Exercises (TMEs) in core areas of training or retraining the injured brain. These TMEs include physical therapy, speech and language rehabilitation and cognitive training.
Music accesses control processes in the brain related to:
control of movement
attention
speech production
learning
memory
These areas can be retrained and rewired to recover function to the injured brain. Research has
shown a relationship between music and the brain. There are no “music-specific” brain areas but
the effect of music is shown to be highly distributed and hierarchical sharing “non-musical”
cognitive, motor, and language function and can engage, train and retrain non-musical and
behavior function. NMT operates as a biological core language of the human brain where the
function of music is a language of learning”.
Bio
Neurological Music Therapist
Carmen is an accredited Music Therapist (MTA) through the Canadian Association of Music
Therapy. She holds a Neurologic Music Therapy (NMT) designation through the Academy of
Neurologic Music Therapy from the University of Toronto and Master’s degree in clinical
counselling psychology from Yorkville University. Carmen has worked as an MTA for over 17
years primarily with children and adults with neurological disorders and brain injury. She
believes that music and rhythm have the capacity to retrain and recover lost function from
traumatic injuries in the areas of speech, cognition and physical movement. Carmen believes in
engaging collaboratively with clients, their family, and other treatment team members.
Clinical Counsellor
Carmen did her practicum working with First Nations clients at Hulitan Community and Family
Services. She advances a therapeutic process that is adaptive and inclusive to diverse populations. She believes in a holistic and client-centered approach that views an individual from a biological, psychological and social and historical perspective. Carmen is now able to provide clinical counselling services for adults and couples.
Areas of practice:
Diverse populations
Intergenerational trauma
Depression
Anxiety
Stress management
Mindfulness and spiritual development
Caregiver counselling
Complex trauma & PTSD
ADHD
Parenting issues
Carmen’s goal is to provide people with a supportive environment that supports growth, hope,
and change through sincerity, respect and acceptance. She is committed to helping her clients
rediscover and uncover their strengths, potentials and capabilities.
For more information on how NMT can help you, please email Carmen at carmenmta@icloud.com