scholarly journals Short-term Music Therapy for Families With Preterm Infants: A Randomized Trial

PEDIATRICS ◽  
2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tora Söderström Gaden ◽  
Claire Ghetti ◽  
Ingrid Kvestad ◽  
Łucja Bieleninik ◽  
Andreas Størksen Stordal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Music Therapy ◽  
Maternal Depression ◽  
Premature Infants ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Parental Anxiety ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Mixed Effect ◽  
Music Therapist ◽  
Secondary Outcomes

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate short-term effects of music therapy (MT) for premature infants and their caregivers on mother-infant bonding, parental anxiety, and maternal depression. METHODS: Parallel, pragmatic, randomized controlled-trial conducted in 7 level III NICUs and 1 level IV NICU in 5 countries enrolling premature infants (<35 weeks gestational age at birth) and their parents. MT included 3 sessions per week with parent-led, infant-directed singing supported by a music therapist. Primary outcome was mother-infant bonding as measured by the Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire (PBQ) at discharge from NICU. Secondary outcomes were parents’ symptoms of anxiety measured by General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) and maternal depression measured by Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS). Group differences at the assessment timepoint of discharge from hospital were tested by linear mixed effect models (ANCOVA). RESULTS: From August 2018 to April 2020, 213 families were enrolled in the study, of whom 108 were randomly assigned to standard care and 105 to MT. Of the participants, 208 of 213 (98%) completed treatment and assessments. Participants in the MT group received a mean (SD) of 10 sessions (5.95), and 87 of 105 participants (83%) received the minimum of 6 sessions. The estimated group effect (95% confidence interval) for PBQ was −0.61 (−1.82 to 0.59). No significant differences between groups were found (P = .32). No significant effects for secondary outcomes or subgroups were found. CONCLUSIONS: Parent-led, infant-directed singing supported by a music therapist resulted in no significant differences between groups in mother-infant bonding, parental anxiety, or maternal depression at discharge.

scholarly journals How did I as a student music therapist, use songwriting techniques to facilitate self-expression with adolescents in a mental health school setting?

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Emma Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Music Therapy ◽  
School Setting ◽  
Secondary Analysis ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Music Therapist ◽  
Clinical Notes ◽  
Therapy Sessions

<p>The purpose of this research was to understand how a student music therapist was able to facilitate self-expression using specific songwriting techniques, during long term and short term, group and individual music therapy sessions. Long term is considered a four-month period of weekly sessions, and short term is considered a single session. This research took place at an educational facility where I was working with adolescents with various mental health issues. In this exegesis, I discuss the various definitions of self-expressions as defined in literature, and consider the ways this relates to songwriting methods chosen and applied during therapy. A qualitative method of research was used, using secondary analysis of data collected from five months of Music Therapy practice. Thematic analysis was applied to clinical notes from sessions, student review statements and personal reflective practitioner journal. I was guided by music therapy literature discussing songwriting that I had been drawing on for the benefit of my practice. My analysis revealed that I developed specifically tailored methods and techniques for individuals and groups, which would begin with how they would like to approach their songwriting. I also found, that alongside more well documented techniques such as lyric writing and composition, improvisation and song planning were of high value to my practice and therefore were included as therapeutic songwriting techniques in my findings.</p>

scholarly journals Inpatient Massage Therapy Versus Music Therapy Versus Usual Care: A Mixed-methods Feasibility Randomized Controlled Trial

2017 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 2164957X1773581 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric J Roseen ◽  
Oscar Cornelio-Flores ◽  
Chelsey Lemaster ◽  
Maria Hernandez ◽  
Calvin Fong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pain Management ◽  
Music Therapy ◽  
Patient Experience ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Massage Therapy ◽  
Safety Net ◽  
Music Therapist ◽  
Urban Safety ◽  
Medical Inpatients ◽  
The Impact

Background Little is known about the feasibility of providing massage or music therapy to medical inpatients at urban safety-net hospitals or the impact these treatments may have on patient experience. Objective To determine the feasibility of providing massage and music therapy to medical inpatients and to assess the impact of these interventions on patient experience. Design Single-center 3-arm feasibility randomized controlled trial. Setting Urban academic safety-net hospital. Patients Adult inpatients on the Family Medicine ward. Interventions Massage therapy consisted of a standardized protocol adapted from a previous perioperative study. Music therapy involved a preference assessment, personalized compact disc, music-facilitated coping, singing/playing music, and/or songwriting. Credentialed therapists provided the interventions. Measurements Patient experience was measured with the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) within 7 days of discharge. We compared the proportion of patients in each study arm reporting “top box” scores for the following a priori HCAHPS domains: pain management, recommendation of hospital, and overall hospital rating. Responses to additional open-ended postdischarge questions were transcribed, coded independently, and analyzed for common themes. Results From July to December 2014, 90 medical inpatients were enrolled; postdischarge data were collected on 68 (76%) medical inpatients. Participants were 70% females, 43% non-Hispanic black, and 23% Hispanic. No differences between groups were observed on HCAHPS. The qualitative analysis found that massage and music therapy were associated with improved overall hospital experience, pain management, and connectedness to the massage or music therapist. Conclusions Providing music and massage therapy in an urban safety-net inpatient setting was feasible. There was no quantitative impact on HCAHPS. Qualitative findings suggest benefits related to an improved hospital experience, pain management, and connectedness to the massage or music therapist.

An Investigation into Short-Term Music Therapy with Mothers and Young Children

2003 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 26-45 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amelia Oldfield ◽  
Malcolm Adams ◽  
Lucy Bunce
Keyword(s):  
Young Children ◽  
Music Therapy ◽  
Nursery School ◽  
Therapy Session ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Clinical Group ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Music Therapist ◽  
Children And Parents ◽  
Group Music Therapy

This paper describes an outcome investigation into two clinical groups of mothers and young children receiving short-term music therapy. The first group was a closed group of mothers and toddlers receiving six-weekly music therapy sessions. The second group was an ongoing group of parents and babies receiving one music therapy session followed by a discussion of videotaped excerpts of this music therapy session a week later. As a point of comparison, a group of children and parents attending a local nursery school receiving six-weekly music sessions run by a music therapist was also investigated. Video analyses, audio analyses and parent's questionnaires were used to measure results. Comparing information collated from the questionnaires to results of the video analyses revealed that parents attending the clinical group viewed their children's behaviours in a less positive light than control group parents. The article is written from the music therapist's viewpoint. This group music therapy work is described and reflected upon in a more qualitative way in a previous article entitled ‘“Mummy can play too…” Short-term music therapy with mothers and young children’ published two years ago in the BJMT.

scholarly journals School-based, two-arm, parallel, controlled trial of a culturally adapted resilience intervention to improve adolescent mental health in Vietnam: study protocol

BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. e039343
Author(s):  
Thach Tran ◽  
Huong Thanh Nguyen ◽  
Ian Shochet ◽  
Astrid Wurfl ◽  
Jayne Orr ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Logistic Regression ◽  
School Connectedness ◽  
Coping Skills ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Mixed Effect ◽  
School Based ◽  
Secondary Outcomes ◽  
Resilience Intervention

IntroductionThe Resourceful Adolescent Program (RAP) is an evidence-based resilience intervention for adolescents. Operating in a strength-focused paradigm, the programme uses an integration of cognitive behavioural therapy and interpersonal psychotherapy to improve coping skills and build resilience. This study aims to establish whether a culturally and linguistically adapted intervention informed by RAP principles is effective in increasing resilience, enhancing coping skills and preventing symptoms of depression and anxiety.Methods and analysisWe will translate, back-translate and culturally adapt the RAP for adolescents and training materials for facilitators, and the adapted intervention will be called Happy House. A two-arm parallel controlled trial will be conducted in eight high schools in the north of Vietnam. In each of the selected schools, all students from four randomly selected grade 10 classes (an estimation of about 1204 students) will be invited to participate. The control group will receive the usual curriculum. The intervention group will receive six weekly 90 min school-based group sessions of Happy House in addition to the usual curriculum. The primary outcome, depressive symptoms, will be measured using a locally validated version of the Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale Revised. Secondary outcomes are mental well-being, coping self-efficacy, school connectedness, anger management and health risk behaviours. Data will be collected at recruitment, and at two weeks and six months post intervention. Mixed-effect logistic regression for the main outcome and mixed-effect linear and logistic regression models for the secondary outcomes will be conducted to estimate the effects of the intervention on the outcomes.Ethics and disseminationThis trial has been approved by Monash University Human Research Ethics Committee (No. 21455) and the Institutional Review Board of the Hanoi School of Public Health (488/2019/YTCC-HD3). Dissemination of findings will include peer-reviewed publications, international and national conferences, seminar and media presentations, national policy briefings in Vietnam, local language reports and lay language summaries for participants.Trial registration numbersRegistered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, registration number: ACTRN12620000088943 (3/2/2020).WHO Universal Trial Number: U1111-1246-4079.

The Baby Steps online program for wellbeing of new parents: A randomized controlled trial (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
David John Kavanagh ◽  
Jennifer Connolly ◽  
Jane Fisher ◽  
Kim Halford ◽  
Kyra Hamilton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Support Provision ◽  
Intention To Treat ◽  
Time Interaction ◽  
Secondary Outcomes

BACKGROUND New mothers and fathers face increased risks of emotional distress and relationship dissatisfaction. Digital interventions may increase access to support, but few preventive programs are optimised to support both parents. OBJECTIVE To conduct the first randomised controlled trial on a universal self-guided digital program to support positive perinatal adjustment of both fathers and mothers. Effects of childcare information modules only (Babycare) and the full interactive program (Baby Steps Wellbeing) were compared from Baseline in the third trimester to 3 and 6 months later (approximately 1 and 4 months postpartum). METHODS Participants were co-parenting, male-female adult couples expecting their first single child (26-38 weeks’ gestation, 87% from hospital antenatal classes). Randomisation to condition was stratified by Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale scores (EPDS; either mother > 7 or father > 5, giving 50% of couples scoring ‘higher’). Primary outcomes were self-reported EPDS and quality of life; secondary outcomes were relationship satisfaction, social support, and self-efficacy for parenting and support provision. Program use and satisfaction were also assessed. Intention-to-treat analyses used linear mixed models. RESULTS Of 388 couples who registered, 248 (64%) met criteria and were randomised. Most were married (81%), tertiary educated (65%), in full-time employment (82%) and born in Australia (68%). Participants’ mean age was 32 years and average gestation was 32 weeks. Using an EPDS cut-off of 12/13, only 4% of men and 6% of women screened positive for probable depression at Baseline (7% and 16% at some time during the 6 months). Retention of both partners to 6-month-assessments was 81%, and program satisfaction was excellent (92% > 50, M = 73/100), regardless of condition. Regardless of condition, only 37-38% of participants accessed their program more than once, with higher rates for mothers (54%) than fathers (21%, P < .001). Changes over Time were seen for EPDS (P = .002, d = .093) and quality of life (P < .001, d = 271). These effects were moderated by sex (P <= .001): fathers appeared to improve linearly; mothers had reduced 3-month-scores that improved by 6 months. Neither outcome showed a Condition x Time interaction (P = .430, .640 respectively). Among secondary outcomes, only self-efficacy for support provision showed greater improvements in Baby Steps Wellbeing (d = .337) than Babycare (d = .093; P = .01)—an effect that was greater for mothers (P = .027). Supplementary analyses examining effects of above/below median Baseline EPDS and of at least one program login did not substantially change results. CONCLUSIONS Despite high levels of satisfaction and retention to assessment, program engagement was limited, and only one outcome showed evidence of enhanced effects from the interactive Wellbeing program. Increased engagement in program use and action plans is needed, especially for men. CLINICALTRIAL Australian & New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry NZCTR12614001256662

A geriatric assessment (GA) intervention for older patients with advanced cancer: Secondary outcomes from a University of Rochester cancer center NCI community oncology research program cluster randomized controlled trial (CRCT).

2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (29_suppl) ◽  
pp. 33-33
Author(s):  
Supriya Gupta Mohile ◽  
Mostafa Mohamed ◽  
Huiwen Xu ◽  
Amita Patil ◽  
Eva Culakova ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Advanced Cancer ◽  
Older Patients ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Cancer Center ◽  
Oncology Research ◽  
Community Oncology ◽  
Treatment Type ◽  
Patient Reported ◽  
Secondary Outcomes

33 Background: GA evaluates aging-related domains (e.g., function) known to be associated with cancer treatment toxicity. We found that providing a GA summary with management recommendations to oncologists reduces clinician-rated toxicity in older patients (pts) with advanced cancer receiving high risk treatment (presented @ASCO2020). Herein, we report secondary outcomes on the effects of the GA intervention on aging-related outcomes. Methods: Pts aged ≥ 70 with incurable solid tumors or lymphoma and ≥ 1 impaired GA domain starting a new treatment regimen were enrolled. Community oncology practices were randomized to intervention (oncologists received GA summary/recommendations) or usual care (none given). Secondary analyses examined effects of the intervention on functional outcomes (patient-reported falls, instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), short physical performance battery (SPPB), geriatric depression scale (GDS), and medications [total and prescription]). Outcomes were analyzed using linear mixed effects model, logistic or Poisson regression adjusted for baseline values, time, and site effects as appropriate. Results: From 2013-19, 718 pts were enrolled from 41 practices. Age (mean 77 yrs), sex (43% women), number of impaired GA domains (median 4/8), and treatment type (chemotherapy 88%) were not different by arm. More pts in intervention were black (12% vs 3%, p<0.01), had GI cancer (38% vs 31%, p<0.01), and had prior chemotherapy (31% vs 23%, p=0.02). Overall, 16.4% of all pts had one new fall over 3 months; patients in the intervention arm were significantly less like to fall over 3 months (11.7% vs 20.7%; Risk Ratio 0.58; 95% CI 0.40-0.84, p=0.004). There was no difference in the total number of medications (mean 5.86 vs 5.79, p=0.80) and prescriptions (mean 4.26 vs 4.20, p=0.70) at baseline. More medications (adjusted mean 0.23 vs 0.09, p=0.03) and prescriptions (0.19 vs 0.07, p=0.05) were discontinued during intervention, although there was no difference at 3 month follow up. There were no significant between-arms differences in IADL, SPPB, and GDS. Conclusions: Providing GA information to oncologists reduces the proportion of older pts who experience a fall over 3 months and improves polypharmacy; both of these endpoints are of clinical importance to older adults with aging-related conditions and advanced cancer undergoing palliative treatment. Funding: R01CA177592, U01CA233167, UG1CA189961. Clinical trial information: NCT02054741 .

scholarly journals Effects of Live Music Therapy on Autonomic Stability in Preterm Infants: A Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial

Children ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (11) ◽  
pp. 1077
Author(s):  
Dana Yakobson ◽  
Christian Gold ◽  
Bolette Daniels Beck ◽  
Cochavit Elefant ◽  
Sofia Bauer-Rusek ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Music Therapy ◽  
Preterm Infants ◽  
Stress Responses ◽  
Emotional Development ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Cluster Randomized Trial ◽  
Study Groups ◽  
Outcome Variable ◽  
Secondary Outcomes ◽  
Cluster Randomized

Unbuffered stress levels may negatively influence preterm-infants’ autonomic nervous system (ANS) maturation, thus affecting neurobehavior and psycho-emotional development. Music therapy (MT) is an evidence-based treatment modality in neonatal care. When coupled with skin-to-skin care (SSC), it may reduce stress responses in both preterm infants and their parents and enhance family-centered care. Accordingly, we aimed to compare the effects of combined MT and SSC and SSC alone on ANS stabilization in preterm infants. In a single-center, cluster-randomized trial design, ten two-month time-clusters were randomized to either combined MT and SSC or SSC alone. Families of preterm infants were offered two sessions of the allocated condition in the NICU, and a three-month follow up session at home. The primary outcome variable was stabilization of the ANS, defined by change in the high frequency (HF) power of heart rate variability (HRV) during the second session. Secondary outcomes included other HRV measures, parent–infant attachment, and parental anxiety at each session. Sixty-eight families were included. MT combined with SSC improved infants’ ANS stability, as indicated by a greater increase in HF power during MT compared to SSC alone (mean difference 5.19 m2/Hz, SE = 1.27, p < 0.001) (95% confidence interval 0.87 to 2.05). Most secondary outcomes were not significantly different between the study groups. MT contributes to preterm-infants’ autonomic stability, thus laying an important foundation for neuro-behavioral and psycho-emotional development. Studies evaluating longer-term effects of MT on preterm infants’ development are warranted.

scholarly journals A randomised controlled trial to compare the safety, effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of doxycycline (200 mg/day) with that of oral prednisolone (0.5 mg/kg/day) for initial treatment of bullous pemphigoid: the Bullous Pemphigoid Steroids and Tetracyclines (BLISTER) trial

2017 ◽  
Vol 21 (10) ◽  
pp. 1-90 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanne R Chalmers ◽  
Fenella Wojnarowska ◽  
Gudula Kirtschig ◽  
James Mason ◽  
Margaret Childs ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Economic Evaluation ◽  
Bullous Pemphigoid ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Oral Prednisolone ◽  
Health Technology ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Life Threatening ◽  
Secondary Outcomes ◽  
Randomised Controlled

BackgroundBullous pemphigoid (BP) is an autoimmune blistering skin disorder with increased morbidity and mortality in the elderly.ObjectivesTo evaluate the effectiveness, safety and cost-effectiveness of a strategy of initiating BP treatment with oral doxycycline or oral prednisolone. We hypothesised that starting treatment with doxycycline gives acceptable short-term blister control while conferring long-term safety advantages over starting treatment with oral prednisolone.DesignPragmatic multicentre two-armed parallel-group randomised controlled trial with an economic evaluation.SettingA total of 54 dermatology secondary care centres in the UK and seven in Germany.ParticipantsAdults with BP [three or more blisters at two sites and positive direct and/or indirect immunofluorescence (immunoglobulin G and/or complement component 3 immunofluorescence at the dermal-epidermal junction)] and able to give informed consent.InterventionsParticipants were allocated using online randomisation to initial doxycycline treatment (200 mg/day) or prednisolone (0.5 mg/kg/day). Up to 30 g/week of potent topical corticosteroids was permitted for weeks 1–3. After 6 weeks, clinicians could switch treatments or alter the prednisolone dose as per normal practice.Main outcome measuresPrimary outcomes: (1) the proportion of participants with three or fewer blisters at 6 weeks (investigator blinded) and (2) the proportion with severe, life-threatening and fatal treatment-related events at 52 weeks. A regression model was used in the analysis adjusting for baseline disease severity, age and Karnofsky score, with missing data imputed. Secondary outcomes included the effectiveness of blister control after 6 weeks, relapses, related adverse events and quality of life. The economic evaluation involved bivariate regression of costs and quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) from a NHS perspective.ResultsIn total, 132 patients were randomised to doxycycline and 121 to prednisolone. The mean patient age was 77.7 years and baseline severity was as follows: mild 31.6% (three to nine blisters), moderate 39.1% (10–30 blisters) and severe 29.3% (> 30 blisters). For those starting on doxycycline, 83 out of 112 (74.1%) had three or fewer blisters at 6 weeks, whereas for those starting on prednisolone 92 out of 101 (91.1%) had three or fewer blisters at 6 weeks, an adjusted difference of 18.6% in favour of prednisolone [90% confidence interval (CI) 11.1% to 26.1%], using a modified intention-to-treat (mITT) analysis. Per-protocol analysis showed similar results: 74.4% compared with 92.3%, an adjusted difference of 18.7% (90% CI 9.8% to 27.6%). The rate of related severe, life-threatening and fatal events at 52 weeks was 18.2% for those started on doxycycline and 36.6% for those started on prednisolone (mITT analysis), an adjusted difference of 19.0% (95% CI 7.9% to 30.1%;p = 0.001) in favour of doxycycline. Secondary outcomes showed consistent findings. There was no significant difference in costs or QALYs per patient at 1 year between doxycycline-initiated therapy and prednisolone-initiated therapy (incremental cost of doxycycline-initiated therapy £959, 95% CI –£24 to £1941; incremental QALYs of doxycycline-initiated therapy –0.024, 95% CI –0.088 to 0.041). Using a willingness-to-pay criterion of < £20,000 per QALY gained, the net monetary benefit associated with doxycycline-initiated therapy was negative but imprecise (–£1432, 95% CI –£3094 to £230).ConclusionsA strategy of starting BP patients on doxycycline is non-inferior to standard treatment with oral prednisolone for short-term blister control and considerably safer in the long term. The limitations of the trial were the wide non-inferiority margin, the moderate dropout rate and that serious adverse event collection was unblinded. Future work might include inducing remission with topical or oral corticosteroids and then randomising to doxycycline or prednisolone for maintenance.Trial registrationCurrent Controlled Trials ISRCTN13704604.FundingThis project was funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment programme and will be published in full inHealth Technology Assessment; Vol. 21, No. 10. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further project information.

scholarly journals Music Therapy for Depression Enhanced With Listening Homework and Slow Paced Breathing: A Randomised Controlled Trial

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaakko Erkkilä ◽  
Olivier Brabant ◽  
Martin Hartmann ◽  
Anastasios Mavrolampados ◽  
Esa Ala-Ruona ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Randomised Controlled Trial ◽  
Music Therapy ◽  
Treatment Effects ◽  
Primary Outcome ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Significant Treatment ◽  
Working Age ◽  
Randomised Controlled

Introduction: There is evidence from earlier trials for the efficacy of music therapy in the treatment of depression among working-age people. Starting therapy sessions with relaxation and revisiting therapeutic themes outside therapy have been deemed promising for outcome enhancement. However, previous music therapy trials have not investigated this issue.Objective: To investigate the efficacy of two enhancers, resonance frequency breathing (RFB) and listening homework (LH), when combined with an established music therapy model (trial registration number ISRCTN11618310).Methods: In a 2 × 2 factorial randomised controlled trial, working-age individuals with depression were allocated into groups based on four conditions derived from either the presence or absence of two enhancers (RFB and LH). All received music therapy over 6 weeks. Outcomes were observed at 6 weeks and 6 months. The primary outcome was the Montgomery Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) score.Results: There was a significant overall effect of treatment for the primary outcome favouring the breathing group (d = 0.50, 95% CI 0.07 to 0.93, p = 0.02). The effect was larger after adjustment for potential confounders (d = 0.62, 95% CI 0.16 to 1.08, p = 0.009). Treatment effects for secondary outcomes, including anxiety (anxiety scale of Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale) and quality of life (RAND-36), were also significant, favouring the breathing group. The homework enhancer did not reach significant treatment effects.Conclusion: We found that the addition of RFB to a music therapy intervention resulted in enhanced therapeutic outcome for clients with depression.

scholarly journals ”Everything Changed When I Got Those Drums”: A Collaborative Case Reflection

2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca Fairchild ◽  
Malakai Mraz
Keyword(s):  
Music Therapy ◽  
Family Violence ◽  
Growth And Development ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Collaborative Process ◽  
Music Therapist ◽  
The Family ◽  
Personal Reflections

Children accompanying their families through the family violence system are often described through the lens of risk. In contrast, there are minimal narratives that describe the interplay between how children’s existing resources can be enriched through engagement in therapeutic programs. This article describes a collaborative case reflection exploring the experiences and actions of a music therapist (Rebecca Fairchild) and an 11-year-old boy (‘Malakai Mraz’) who was accompanying his mother through the family violence system. Following involvement in short term music therapy, Malakai expressed how receiving a drum machine and learning to play the drums had changed his life. We decided to collaborate in writing this article together to describe our personal reflections about the various stages of our engagement in music therapy together and to explore the range of conditions and resources at play that contributed to Malakai’s growth and development. We will also share a song that was written as part of the collaborative process as a way of providing an arts-based and child-centred representation of our experiences. Critical considerations for writing collaboratively in this way with participants in therapeutic programs will also be discussed.

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