“Music has the power to reach beyond confusion, beyond fear, beyond forgetfulness - straight into the soul”
- Dr. Oliver Sacks
How does music therapy work?
Music therapy is a modality of creative arts therapy (such as art therapy, or dance/movement therapy) that uses music and musical elements to support our clients in achieving clinical goals. You do not need to be a musician or have previous musical experience to receive the full benefits from music therapy!
The music therapist utilizes singing, music-making, songwriting, improvisation and lyric analysis to create experiences that support growth towards a specific clinical goal. For example, if the goal is to reduce anxiety the music therapist might use relaxation techniques, such as guided imagery scripts, mindfulness, or active music-making to guide the client through increasing relaxation.
Music therapy is engaging, accessible, effective, and fun!
meet your music therapist.
My name is Natalia Uribe, I am a certified and licensed music therapist based in Portland, OR, as well as the founder of Uribe Music Therapy.
Since the beginning of my music therapy training I have been awed and passionate about the positive effects that music therapy has on the brain and its potential for rehabilitation, community building, and accessibility. I get to see these positive effects everyday in my work as a medical music therapist, and my work in hospice and memory care.
As part of my professional duty to advocate for my patients I joined the board for the Oregon Association for Music Therapy, and as the president are seeking avenues for insurance reimbursement for music therapy services in Oregon.