- Title
- The development of a reflective wellness self-assessment for music therapists
- Year Issued
- 2019
- Abstract
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The inspiration behind developing a reflective wellness self-assessment tool for music therapists came from the rationale that 1) burnout is an ethical issue that is prevalent in our profession and 2) no other tool which encourages therapist self-reflection on this i...
Show moreThe inspiration behind developing a reflective wellness self-assessment tool for music therapists came from the rationale that 1) burnout is an ethical issue that is prevalent in our profession and 2) no other tool which encourages therapist self-reflection on this issue exists in the field of music therapy. In an effort to create a unique tool that is relevant to the uniqueness of the profession, this self-assessment resource was based on pre-existing research and literature specific to music therapists and their experiences of burnout and burnout prevention. The development of this tool involved four phases: 1) an extensive investigation and organization of music therapy literature regarding personal and professional wellness; 2) the development of the wellness self-assessment tool based on the results found in the literature; 3) an evaluation process of the self-assessment by advanced and student music therapy professionals; and 4) an examination of the evaluation results and making changes to the assessment based on those results. In addition to their questions and suggestions that contributed to changes made to the assessment, the evaluators also identified multiple uses of the wellness self-assessment for music therapists, such as: bringing results into individual, group, or peer supervision; administering it to interns and students; completing it at regular intervals (i.e. 5-year re-certification); using it for future research on music therapy burnout; and incorporating it into the music therapy curriculum. The evaluators also indicated that the strengths of the wellness self-assessment tool were that it is specific to the field of music therapy, it is holistic and comprehensive, and it inspires critical and valuable self-reflection. The Wellness Self-Assessment for Music Therapists has ethical implications and is designed to be a preventative resource that promotes self-awareness, self-reflection, and overall wellness for the music therapist’s personal and professional self.
Show less - Author
- Chambers, Janelle
- Title
- In a Big Voice
- Abstract
-
In this autoethnography, I utilized a handful of different techniques to recall, examine, and share my experiences while entering, being in, and leaving the field of music therapy. Those included: chronological listing, narrative journaling, songwriting, lyric analys...
Show moreIn this autoethnography, I utilized a handful of different techniques to recall, examine, and share my experiences while entering, being in, and leaving the field of music therapy. Those included: chronological listing, narrative journaling, songwriting, lyric analysis, and external collaborators. Examining the autoethnography revealed specific themes about my experience with music therapy, including the role of my identity and privilege, systemic pressures, resistance to systemic pressures, non-profit specific ethics, and community support. Sharing these specific experiences and themes aims to add to a growing literature of music therapy burnout, including why music therapists leave the field, what specific experiences feel like, and where music therapists go after leaving the field.
Show less - Year Issued
- 2024
- Author
- Cumine, Colby
- Sub-title
- An autoethnography on entering, being in, and leaving the field of music therapy
- Title
- The music therapist's experience of conflicting approaches in the workplace
- Year Issued
- 2023
- Abstract
-
This thesis aimed to explore the lived experiences of music therapists who practice from a different approach than the behavioral setting in which they work. I was interested in whether other music therapists experienced a dissonance that stemmed from conflicting app...
Show moreThis thesis aimed to explore the lived experiences of music therapists who practice from a different approach than the behavioral setting in which they work. I was interested in whether other music therapists experienced a dissonance that stemmed from conflicting approaches in their workplace, as I experienced this dissonance as a new music therapist. After completing an initial interest and demographic survey, nine participants were selected to participate in interviews, where they were asked predetermined questions about their approach to treatment, their facility's approach to treatment, and how they experienced and navigated this conflict. After coding, themes were organized using ATLAS.ti. Five themes emerged: 1) relationships, 2) power dynamics, 3) perceptions, 4) feelings, and 5) bridging approaches. Interpretations of the findings were provided, as well as recommendations for future research and implications for music therapy practice.
Show less - Author
- Goodenough, Haylee