Why is music therapy considered an allied health profession?

Music therapy is considered an allied health profession because it delivers specialized health services that fall outside the scope of those traditionally provided by physicians and nurses.1

As a clinical discipline, it utilizes music—through methods such as listening, songwriting, improvisation, and lyric analysis—to address specific nonmusical goals related to cognition, movement, speech, language, and mental health. Music therapists are trained in fields including psychology, biology, and neurology, allowing them to work effectively alongside other healthcare practitioners to support patient well-being across the lifespan.1