Music Therapy--Holistic Model

In the developed world, as mental health care continues to move out of institutions and into the community, an emphasis on prevention and health promotion, accountability, and consumer involvement have been identified as fundamental. Currently, most community mental health programs remain grounded in the medical/psychiatric model, however examples based on the psychosocial rehabilitation model and work inspired by a health and wellness/holistic model as well as blended approaches which utilize elements of more than one model are increasing. In the interest of developing the most efficacious, respectful, accountable, and ethical model, a consumer partnered and directed mental health music therapy pilot program was launched at the community clubhouse site of the largest community mental health service provider in the lower mainland of British Columbia in September, 1997. This article will describe the process of the development of the program, demonstrate how it functions, present the results of a consumer evaluation of the program, and discuss plans for the future.

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The Evolution of Music Therapy

Musik- Tanz und Kunsttherapie ◽

10.1026/0933-6885/a000221 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 26 (4) ◽

pp. 207-221

Author(s):

Wolfgang Mastnak

Keyword(s):

Music Therapy ◽

Evidence Based Medicine ◽

Wide Spectrum ◽

Evidence Based ◽

Modern Music ◽

Guided Imagery And Music ◽

Theoretical Perspectives ◽

International Importance ◽

Evolution Of Music ◽

Based Medicine

Abstract. Five overlapping eras or stages can be distinguished in the evolution of music therapy. The first one refers to the historical roots and ethnological sources that have influenced modern meta-theoretical perspectives and practices. The next stage marks the heterogeneous origins of modern music therapy in the 20th century that mirror psychological positions and novel clinical ideas about the healing power of music. The subsequent heyday of music therapeutic models and schools of thought yielded an enormous variety of concepts and methods such as Nordoff–Robbins music therapy, Orff music therapy, analytic music therapy, regulatory music therapy, guided imagery and music, sound work, etc. As music therapy gained in international importance, clinical applications required research on its therapeutic efficacy. According to standards of evidence-based medicine and with regard to clearly defined diagnoses, research on music therapeutic practice was the core of the fourth stage of evolution. The current stage is characterized by the emerging epistemological dissatisfaction with the paradigmatic reductionism of evidence-based medicine and by the strong will to discover the true healing nature of music. This trend has given birth to a wide spectrum of interdisciplinary hermeneutics for novel foundations of music therapy. Epigenetics, neuroplasticity, regulatory and chronobiological sciences, quantum physical philosophies, universal harmonies, spiritual and religious views, and the cultural anthropological phenomenon of esthetics and creativity have become guiding principles. This article should not be regarded as a historical treatise but rather as an attempt to identify theoretical landmarks in the evolution of modern music therapy and to elucidate the evolution of its spirit.

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