- Title
- Clinicians' perceptions of the certification board for music therapists exam
- Year Issued
- 2024
- Abstract
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This study utilized survey research to determine contributing factors to the downward trend in passing rates for the board certification examination for music therapists from the test takers’ perspectives. This was accomplished by inquiring about test preparation, te...
Show moreThis study utilized survey research to determine contributing factors to the downward trend in passing rates for the board certification examination for music therapists from the test takers’ perspectives. This was accomplished by inquiring about test preparation, test-taking experiences, test accessibility, and perceptions about the overall structure of the exam. 76.67% of participants indicated that they were White or European, 16.67% were Hispanic or Latino/a, and 3.33% were American Indian or Alaska Native, 96.43% were female, and 61% passed the exam on their first attempt. 75% of survey respondents said that the exam was accessible to their individual test taking needs. Survey participants in both categories, those who passed on their first attempt and those who did not, reported experiencing restrictions that hindered them from (re)taking the CBMT exam. When asked whether or not they agreed with the statement “My exam score(s) reflect my competence as a music therapist,” 57% of participants disagreed to some extent. When those who did not pass on their first attempt were asked how this impacted their self-concept, there was a common theme among respondents. Using words like failure, dreadful, discouraged, and defeated to describe how they felt after not passing, it was clear that many exam candidates put a strong emphasis on this exam and what it indicates about them as a music therapist. Nearly half of the respondents admitted to experiencing test taking anxiety which made taking the CBMT exam more challenging. Participants noted that the most challenging section for exam candidates overall was treatment, implementation, and termination. 67% of respondents agreed to some degree that their undergraduate program’s approach/philosophy was well-rounded enough to fully prepare them for the exam. Yet, 46% believe that the content of these same programs did not fully prepare them for the exam. That said, most survey respondents also disclosed that they received little to no support from academic professors when preparing for the exam.
Show less - Author
- Miller, Sara
- Title
- Music therapists and feelings of clinical inadequacy
- Abstract
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Abstract In this narrative analysis, semi-structured interviews occurred with six music therapists to examine their experiences of feelings of clinical inadequacy in music therapy. Five themes with twenty-one subthemes emerged in the data: professional development (i...
Show moreAbstract In this narrative analysis, semi-structured interviews occurred with six music therapists to examine their experiences of feelings of clinical inadequacy in music therapy. Five themes with twenty-one subthemes emerged in the data: professional development (insufficient knowledge, lack of training, lack of experience in field/setting, lack of professional support), workspace issues (lack of knowledge of music therapy by others, feeling like an outsider, unrealistic expectations, unfair comparisons, pressure from unrealistic parental expectations), intrapersonal issues (historical wounds, personal vulnerabilities, personal traits), felt experiences (emotional, psychological, visceral, social, physiological, physical), and coping strategies (honest internal observation, professional vulnerability/humility, and compassion). The findings of this study hold implications for education, supervision, and further music therapy research.
Show less - Year Issued
- 2022
- Author
- Dalessandro, Susan
- Sub-title
- A narrative analysis
- Title
- Neurologic music therapists' perspectives on neurologic music therapy
- Abstract
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Limited literature exists providing a critical analysis of Neurologic Music Therapy (NMT) as a model of music therapy. This qualitative research study, therefore, sought to explore the strengths and weaknesses of NMT, particularly in its approach to disability, throu...
Show moreLimited literature exists providing a critical analysis of Neurologic Music Therapy (NMT) as a model of music therapy. This qualitative research study, therefore, sought to explore the strengths and weaknesses of NMT, particularly in its approach to disability, through the perspectives of practicing Neurologic Music Therapists. Participants were recruited from the Directory of Current NMT Affiliates, from relevant social media groups, and by referral. Five board-certified music therapists who currently practice NMT or have practiced NMT within the last five years were participants in this research. Data was collected through interviews between the researcher and each participant, in which six discussion prompts were asked. These interviews were recorded and transcribed, after which the researcher utilized inductive coding techniques to uncover prominent themes in the interviews. Six themes emerged in the data. Three themes reflected Neurologic Music Therapists’ perceived areas of strength for NMT as a model: 1) Supported by Empirical Evidence; 2) Client and Caregiver Agency; and 3) Helpful in Addressing Specific Goals. Three themes reflected perceived areas for potential improvement for NMT as a model: 1) Issues with the Academy of Neurologic Music Therapy and the NMT Training; 2) Ableism in Practice; and 3) Narrow Goal Areas. This study adds information to gaps in the literature and could act as a starting point for further studies exploring the strengths and limitations of NMT. Due to limited representation in the participant group, this researcher would recommend repeating this study with a larger group of participants representing a wider range of identities.
Show less - Year Issued
- 2024
- Author
- Watson, Amanda
- Sub-title
- areas of strength and areas for potential growth
- Title
- Recognizing and navigating dynamics of power in the therapeutic relationship
- Abstract
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This critical thematic analysis study aims to explore how music therapists identify and navigate the complex dynamics of power in therapeutic relationships. Current literature illustrates how various theoretical lens’ view and address power structures in therapy, poi...
Show moreThis critical thematic analysis study aims to explore how music therapists identify and navigate the complex dynamics of power in therapeutic relationships. Current literature illustrates how various theoretical lens’ view and address power structures in therapy, pointing to a multifaceted understanding of power in therapy. Participants (n=6) were selected purposively to represent music therapists who had access to varying degrees of power in the therapeutic context as a result of their identity markers. They each completed a 45-60 minute interview that included questions related to sociocultural identity, understanding of power, dynamics of power in music therapy, how they navigate power dynamics, and reflexive practice. The interviews were coded and analyzed, then grouped into themes. Six themes and 36 sub themes emerged in the data: dynamics of power (inherent, multifaceted, intersectional and contextual, reciprocal, relational, omnipresent, systemic, privilege, access), associations with power (negative, neutral, positive), therapist responsibilities (safety of client, supervision and accountability, reflexivity, acuity, humility, curiosity, supportive, music as container, honesty), external expectations (therapist as expert, parent and guardian expectations, pressure to comply, loss of power, idealization of therapist), missed opportunities (advocacy, connection, humanizing therapist), and strategies of navigating power (challenging ideology, contesting hegemony, unmasking power, overcoming alienation, learning liberation, reclaiming epistemic agency, practicing democracy). From the findings, it is evident that music therapists may hold largely negative perceptions of power and could benefit from a more nuanced understanding as they address power imbalances in therapeutic contexts.
Show less - Year Issued
- 2024
- Author
- O'Sullivan, Emily
- Sub-title
- Music therapists’ perspectives
- Title
- Songwriting as a medium to explore the supervisory relationship in hospice music therapy
- Abstract
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This thesis is a culmination of an Arts-Informed Cohort-Pair Narrative Inquiry that focused upon the experiences of a supervisor and a supervisee within their supervisory relationship. Over the course of a six-month music therapy internship, the supervisor and superv...
Show moreThis thesis is a culmination of an Arts-Informed Cohort-Pair Narrative Inquiry that focused upon the experiences of a supervisor and a supervisee within their supervisory relationship. Over the course of a six-month music therapy internship, the supervisor and supervisee participants each submitted a monthly song and a written reflection to the researcher describing their experiences. The songs, in which the music and the lyrics were considered data, were analyzed through phases of thematic analysis. At the midpoint of the internship, the researcher facilitated a joint song writing experience. Findings showed that the supervisory relationship was impacted by external, intrapersonal, and interpersonal factors. Themes concerning external factors included the availability of external support systems and the overall work environment. In terms of intrapersonal factors, themes included energy, emotions, and self-awareness. Interpersonal factors included themes regarding factors that impacted the working alliance and the development of rapport. While these findings align with and support previous literature, the findings revealed that songwriting organically included reflexivity regarding many of the foundational aspects of the supervisory relationship.
Show less - Year Issued
- 2022
- Author
- Phair, Kelly
- Sub-title
- Supervisor and supervisee perspectives