Specialists in Jordan to officially use music therapy to treat patients

Gulf Today Report

Seven Jordanian specialists will officially start treating patients by music after completing their graduation, it was revealed during a ceremony held on Sunday evening at the Royal Cultural Centre in Amman.

Dr Jack Sarkis, Consultant of Neurological Disorders and Autism, supervising the batch pointed out that music releases physical sounds, which address the brain, hormones and the body to achieve comfort and happiness and to get rid of disturbances and stress.

Sarkis added, "Music translates movement within the nervous system based on a specific mechanism and affects the behaviour of the individual.”

According to Sarkis, the projects presented by the graduates include a music programme to reduce employee’s anxiety.

They also explained the effect of treatment with this programme on the aggressive behaviour of adolescents.

Seven specialists (wearing blue sashes) pose with other dignitaries during a graduation ceremony.

The programme is also used to develop the skills of autistic children to overcome obsessive-compulsive disorder, hyperactivity and attention deficit.

During the ceremony, the graduates played a musical piece entitled "Hope" indicating their work paths during the next stage, before receiving the accredited certificates.

Sarkis said, "The training diploma programme for music therapy is the first of its kind in the Middle East.

“It competes globally by adding the feature of nervous system therapies and scientific applications, in cooperation with the Centre for Consultation and Studies at Al Balqa Applied University."

Hazza Al Barari, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Culture, Hussein Al Khatib, head of the Artists Syndicate, and a number of senior figures attended the ceremony.

Hazza Al Barari said the graduates will specialise in psychological treatment of behaviour imposed by the ups and downs of life.