This page is designed to provide answers to some of the most frequently asked questions (FAQs) regarding music therapy service delivery.
What occurs in a typical music therapy session?
There is no “typical” session because music therapy sessions are tailored to each client’s personal strengths, preferred music, and areas of need/therapeutic goals.
While sessions may use similar instruments or interventions, an instrument may be used to meet a different need each time.
Depending upon the interests and needs of the client, sessions may include one or more of the following: active music making, music listening, song lyric discussion, songwriting, and adaptive music learning.
How often do sessions occur? How long is each session?
Our team believes in quality over quantity and therefore, we determine what is best for each client based upon his/her ability to attend to the session, ability to engage purposefully and meaningfully for the full duration, as well as looking at how to best utilize funds available for services that will best serve the client’s ability to make progress.
Our most common appointment duration and frequency is a weekly, 45-minute session; however, 30-minute and 60-minute sessions can also be scheduled on a weekly or every-other-week basis.
Do we need to schedule our next visit each week?
LIH believes in consistency and structure and thus, we do our absolute best to assign a time with a client/family that will work as a set time for that individual. This helps the client as well as the person(s) involved in transporting to the appointment to “lock in” this time in their schedule and plan for this time weekly.
When are sessions scheduled?
Clients individual or small group sessions will be scheduled as a standing appointment time, Monday – Saturday, during our hours of availability.
General Hours of Availability:
Monday: 1:30 PM – 7:00 PM
Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Thursday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Friday: 11:00 AM – 6:30 PM
Saturday: 8:30 AM – 1:30 PM
It is very important to note that a client’s funding source for services may impact when a session can occur.
Where do sessions take place?
Services are conducted at LIH’s clinic space, on the Mobile Music Therapy Studio, in clients’ homes/place of residence, as well as at other facilities in the community.
The following items are taken into account when determining which location is best:
1) What location will allow the client to be the most focused and successful?
2) Are there clinical needs for a client to be seen at a specific location?
3) What location will provide the most consistent attendance?
We strongly encourage clients to first try our clinic location as we feel it provides a controlled, structured, and therapeutic environment free of distractions such as pets, tv, food, etc. that may be more readily available in a residential setting. Our clinic is equipped with a wide variety of instruments, visuals/manipulatives, and space to target body awareness and motor needs.
Can you come to my child’s daycare or school?
Rarely. This vastly relies on the funding source that is paying for the music therapy service as well as the daycare or school’s ability to accommodate a space for the service.
While we rarely see children during the school day (on-site), we do have some local schools where we provide services to a specific child on-site during an “after care” program, such as “Surround Care.”
Can music therapy be included on an IEP?
The short answer is “yes”; however, there are many factors that are considered before a service is added to an Individualized Education Program (IEP).
To receive more information to support music therapy as a related service, please contact us. While we strongly encourage you to advocate for music therapy services, LIH does not attend IEP meetings unless required due to being part of an IEP team.
We are passionate about empowering parents to advocate for this service and if requested to evaluate a student, we are happy to assist.
What Funding Options are available for LIH Services?
Many LIH clients receive services through various Third-Party payers such as IRIS, Family Care, Children’s Long Term Support Waiver, Family Support Program, Family Support Grant, private insurance, and local grants (Children’s Miracle Network, La Crosse Area Autism Foundation, Down Syndrome Association of Wisconsin).
Grant application forms can be found under the “Resources” tab on our website. For more information regarding funding for services click on the “Funding FAQ” under the services menu.
What regions/physical locations does LIH cover?
The majority of our work occurs within La Crosse County, also known as the Coulee Region. For an updated list of the communities we service, please check the “Locations & Directions” tab under “About Us”. This is an ever-changing (and GROWING!) list of communities so please contact us directly if you do not see your community listed.
Do you provide in-services or tailored presentations?
Yes! LIH offers workshops and in-services to organizations such as schools, hospitals, daycares, etc. The purpose of these opportunities is to provide education on the topic of music therapy, provide recommended techniques for music-based approaches of care, or to offer an interactive music-centered staff development opportunity.
Please contact us to let us know what you are looking to have your audience/participants achieve or learn. Once we know more about your vision, we can provide you with available dates/times, cost, and some ideas of what we could provide.
Is your facility handicap accessible?
Yes! Our facility was built in 2008 and meets the ADA standards for accessibility. Our Mobile Music Therapy Studio is equipped with a lift as well.
Who receives services at LIH?
Our team works with over 125 individuals in a 1:1 setting on a weekly basis! This includes individuals of all ages and levels of need.
Music is a tool that can be modified to target various developmental milestones, adapted to meet individuals where they are psychosocially or physiologically, and tailored to support individuals during normal stages of the life cycle such as birth and death.
LIH is a vendor with various counties and state programs and we also have private contracts with nursing homes and other organizations looking to incorporate music therapy programming or music enrichment services.
Where can I find more information about music therapy and how music therapy can help with specific populations?
For more information about frequently asked questions about music therapy we strongly encourage you to visit the American Music Therapy Association Website.
This website has a wonderful FAQ section and fact sheets that provide information about music therapy for specific populations.