Music, Art and Animal Assisted Therapy Join for Treatment

Although music therapy can be offered as a standalone service, it can also be offered as a cotreatment to many different modalities such as physical therapy, occupational therapy and art therapy.

Bethany Pincus, a Board Certified Music Therapist, and Christina Auriemma, a Licensed Art Therapist, are providing combined music therapy and animal assisted therapy sessions on P2 with facility dog, Professor. The goal is to bring relaxation, positive coping, emotional support, and verbal conversation surrounding a patient’s hospitalization. During these sessions, Christina guides Professor to lay with a patient on their bed, while Bethany plays grounding and holding music on the guitar. A patient could request songs for Bethany to play or to just listen and/or participate in art making provided by Christina. These sessions have been very successful and beneficial to patients and their families.

Professor laying with a patient and her mom during an animal assisted/music therapy session.