2 minute read
Pink Pony Procedural Support
from Child Life DISCOVER 2024 October
by Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy Department, Mount Sinai Kravis Children's
One of the ways that music therapy provides support for patients and families at Mount Sinai Kravis Children’s Hospital is through procedural support, using live music to decrease anxiety and support positive coping during a variety of medical procedures. In a recent metabolic clinic visit, Joseph Cooper, a board-certified music therapist, supported a family during a blood draw by engaging Talin, the patient, and his family through live-singing of a patient-chosen song, Pink Pony Club by Chappell Roan. “It really meant a lot to me that everyone was there helping me get through the blood test. I feel like I could do okay with a blood test if I could have help like that but usually I would feel terrible thinking about a blood test,” Talin explained. Focusing one’s attention on a non-stressful stimulus like music may decrease the perception of pain or stress by closing the gate mechanism that relays messages from the body to the brain, making visits more comfortable for patients like Talin and his family. “Music is present in our family’s lives to destress after a tough day, share joy and pass time in the car. Talin was overwhelmed by the idea of a blood draw so much that the doctor had offered to postpone to another day. When Joseph said he could play Talin’s song request, I knew that it was going to work. Then watching Talin mesmerized - Joseph turned a traumatic event into a win. Talin loves to talk about it to everyone,” shared Talin’s mother, Kathryn.