*Please note that while the client examples are based on real experiences, the identifying information has been fictionalized and/or modified to protect privacy and identity of actual music therapy clients.
Why should we develop a personal or professional perspective? I have been thinking a lot about this since interviewing Brian Abrams on May 7 about Development of a Humanistic Perspective on Music Therapy [http://www.blogtalkradio.com/jharrismtbc/2010/05/07/development-of-a-humanistic-perspective-on-music-therapy]. I also studied different perspectives and developed my own during my graduate work at Texas Woman’s University. Lately, I’ve been reviewing my perspective, both for my work and my personal goals.
First, let’s look at a professional perspective. My perspective influences how I treat my clients. I use an integrated perspective, which means I incorporate concepts and methods from a variety of systems. I use this integrated perspective because there are many, many theories of how music therapy works best with clients. A single theory, I believe, cannot be relevant to all clients and all problems.
For instance, Andy*, who is diagnosed with cerebral palsy, does not use his hands functionally, but is able to move his arms a little. I place a triangle stick in a cuff and then strap the cuff onto his hand. I hold the triangle near the triangle stick within his range of motion. I sing a phrase of a song he likes and then wait until he strikes the triangle before singing the next phrase. Andy is very motivated to move his hands to play the triangle so that I will continue singing. So here, the music is a reward for a behavior and is motivation to continue the behavior, which is a component of the behavioral perspective.
However, while using this behavioral technique, I am also aware of the biomedical processes that are involved, such as the stimulation of the motor cortex in order to move the hand or the release of endorphins when Andy smiles in response to the music or his accomplishment of sounding the triangle and continuing the song. I am also purposefully maintaining an unconditional positive regard for the client, which is a characteristic of person-centered or humanistic perspective. I have also received additional training in Neurologic Music Therapy and am using a technique they coined, Therapeutic Instrumental Music Performance. I am also aware that I am influencing Andy just by being present with my attitude and intention and by offering music as a stimulus, which is a complexity science perspective.
The key is, to be aware of what is influencing me as I select techniques and interventions, and to use those influences, techniques, and interventions purposefully and appropriately. If we don’t know what influences the therapeutic techniques we use, then we do not fully understand our biases, or even our therapy.
But the need for developing a perspective is not just for professional work. It can also be useful for one’s personal life. I like to think of this as a mission statement for my personal growth. Having this mission statement helps me to make sure that I am working towards my personal goals and not cluttering my life with things, people, or events that do not serve me. A personal mission statement guides your expectations for yourself and your family. Identify what you stand for, what you believe, and what’s important to you. Make sure your expectations for yourself and for your family are reasonable (neither too high nor too low). Once you’ve written your personal mission statement, be sure to review it each day. You can use the mission statement to keep you focused on what you want during your day and to evaluate yourself at the end of the day.
If you’d like more information about developing a professional or personal perspective, contact me: janice@heartbeatmusictherapy.net
Janice Harris, MA, MT-BC, is a music therapist in private practice in Dallas, TX with over 15 years’ experience with a variety of populations. She is the host and producer of The Music Therapy Show with Janice Harris on Blog Talk Radio.