
What Is Harp Therapy?
Harp therapy is a general term used to describe the continuum of types of therapies in which the harp is used. The harp, with its soothing timbre and spiritual associations, has been revered as a healing instrument by many cultures for thousands of years.
Harp therapy may be provided at home or in a clinical setting. The setting largely dictates what size harp can be used, however a variety of sizes of harps may be used to provide therapeutic harp music. When therapeutic harp music is played, recipients may receive beneficial effects such as increased relaxation, improvement in sleep, decreased pain and anxiety, stabilization of vital signs, and improvement in mood. An end-of-life music vigil can also help a patient to achieve a peaceful transition.
Some harpists, trained in other therapeutic disciplines such as psychology, music therapy and occupational therapy, use the harp in their practices to elicit specific cognitive or behavioral changes. In addition, a harpist might teach an individual to play the harp to assist in pain reduction, to help to overcome physical, mental and emotional challenges, to create a sense of community in a group setting, and to provide physical rehabilitation.
Research in the field of harp therapy not only focuses on clinical studies and case studies, but also explores the unique attributes of the timbre of the harp through cymatics, acoustics and quantum physics.
Typically, a therapeutic harpist receives training from a therapeutic musician training program. The graduate is then awarded a certification credential that is unique to his/her program. Standards of practice for Therapeutic Musicians have been established by the National Standards Board for Therapeutic Musicians (NSBTM): www.nsbtm.org.
Harp therapy is a general term used to describe the continuum of types of therapies in which the harp is used. The harp, with its soothing timbre and spiritual associations, has been revered as a healing instrument by many cultures for thousands of years.
Harp therapy may be provided at home or in a clinical setting. The setting largely dictates what size harp can be used, however a variety of sizes of harps may be used to provide therapeutic harp music. When therapeutic harp music is played, recipients may receive beneficial effects such as increased relaxation, improvement in sleep, decreased pain and anxiety, stabilization of vital signs, and improvement in mood. An end-of-life music vigil can also help a patient to achieve a peaceful transition.
Some harpists, trained in other therapeutic disciplines such as psychology, music therapy and occupational therapy, use the harp in their practices to elicit specific cognitive or behavioral changes. In addition, a harpist might teach an individual to play the harp to assist in pain reduction, to help to overcome physical, mental and emotional challenges, to create a sense of community in a group setting, and to provide physical rehabilitation.
Research in the field of harp therapy not only focuses on clinical studies and case studies, but also explores the unique attributes of the timbre of the harp through cymatics, acoustics and quantum physics.
Typically, a therapeutic harpist receives training from a therapeutic musician training program. The graduate is then awarded a certification credential that is unique to his/her program. Standards of practice for Therapeutic Musicians have been established by the National Standards Board for Therapeutic Musicians (NSBTM): www.nsbtm.org.

Vibroacoustic Harp Therapy® (VAHT®)
Often described as a musical massage, Vibroacoustic Harp Therapy (VAHT) involves the live performance of harp music, amplified through a vibrotactile chair or pad, directly delivered to a patient's body in the form of sound vibration. When the patient (or client) senses that specific tones or pitches resonate in areas of the body where s/he experiences pain or tension, the VAHT practitioner plays music that features and emphasizes those pitches. The music may be improvised or selected from existing repertoire.
A harp with at least 36 vibrating strings resonates with and relaxes the patient's body and mind. While lying or sitting on a vibrotactile pad or chair, a patient experiences musical tones in different areas of the body at different times - so the therapy is a dynamic process, tailored to each patient. Abstract thinking slows and awareness expands. S/he may have increased body awareness and feel like s/he is dreaming. Occasionally, memories (positive or negative) may be recalled, or re-experienced, or symbolized through imagery. New awareness and insight, positive reframing or integration of previously repressed material may possibly lead to emotional release. In addition to deep relaxation and increased body awareness, most patients report significant relief of pain or symptoms, positive imagery and a feeling of being nurtured. For more information about the benefits of VAHT, please visit: harpforhealing.com/clinical-musician-certification-program/vaht
VAHT is usually administered by, or supervised by, a licensed professional in private practice or clinical setting. Vibroacoustic Harp Therapy Practitioners® receive training through: harpforhealing.com/clinical-musician-certification-program/vaht
Often described as a musical massage, Vibroacoustic Harp Therapy (VAHT) involves the live performance of harp music, amplified through a vibrotactile chair or pad, directly delivered to a patient's body in the form of sound vibration. When the patient (or client) senses that specific tones or pitches resonate in areas of the body where s/he experiences pain or tension, the VAHT practitioner plays music that features and emphasizes those pitches. The music may be improvised or selected from existing repertoire.
A harp with at least 36 vibrating strings resonates with and relaxes the patient's body and mind. While lying or sitting on a vibrotactile pad or chair, a patient experiences musical tones in different areas of the body at different times - so the therapy is a dynamic process, tailored to each patient. Abstract thinking slows and awareness expands. S/he may have increased body awareness and feel like s/he is dreaming. Occasionally, memories (positive or negative) may be recalled, or re-experienced, or symbolized through imagery. New awareness and insight, positive reframing or integration of previously repressed material may possibly lead to emotional release. In addition to deep relaxation and increased body awareness, most patients report significant relief of pain or symptoms, positive imagery and a feeling of being nurtured. For more information about the benefits of VAHT, please visit: harpforhealing.com/clinical-musician-certification-program/vaht
VAHT is usually administered by, or supervised by, a licensed professional in private practice or clinical setting. Vibroacoustic Harp Therapy Practitioners® receive training through: harpforhealing.com/clinical-musician-certification-program/vaht