Therapeutic Approaches
Music Therapy has been influenced by a variety of therapeutic models and approaches, but therapists may centre their approach around the specific therapeutic model or theory they feel is most relevant. However, our ability to work in a variety of ways is always a tool we can draw upon when needed.
Psychodynamic Approaches
Psychodynamic therapy aims to understand current behaviours, feelings, and relationships through reflecting on the past. Through joint exploration of the clients life, the therapist facilitates making connections between past experiences and present challenges by examining patterns of relating, emotional states, and patterns of relating.
In The Music
Within spontaneous musical improvisation with the therapist, patterns of relating can be accessed and thought about in a new way by reflecting on joint musical interaction. The mood of the music can also reflect unconscious feelings, allowing them to be thought about more actively. Music becomes the bridge between what the mind can hold and what the voice can say.
Person Centered Approaches
Person centered therapy is based on the assumption that all people have an innate ability to grow, develop, and heal from experiences in their life. Compassion and empathy lie at the centre of this approach, both from therapist to client and client to themselves. Crucially this is a strengths based therapy, where the client is positioned as the expert on them and their needs, and change can occur through emphasis on strengths, values, and hope.
In The Music
Through a creative and playful medium, a persons strengths can be utilised to help support positive growth and development regardless of intellectual capacity, level of spoken language or physical disabilities.
Evidence Based Approaches
Evidenced based interventions are approaches that focus on sharing knowledge and coping mechanisms that can help clients to get back on track. These therapies are more goal-based, practical, and tend to be used when therapy is short term. This includes drawing on a variety of therapeutic models including CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy), MBT (mentalisation based therapy), and DBT (dialectical behavioural therapy).
In The Music
Both music listening and playing can be used as coping mechanisms for processing and dealing with challenging feelings, a coping mechanism that can be used both in and outside the session. Taking part in creating music with another promotes listening, reflection, and awareness within social interaction, helping clients build confidence using these skills out in their everyday life.