Music Therapy in Principle and Practice

This book offers the student or anyone interested in learning about music therapy with an overview from two important perspectives: combining valuable information from research as a basis for principles along with the realities of hands-on experience as a basis for practice. The text approaches therapy from the position of assessing developmental skills in individuals served. While it includes a significant amount of information regarding diagnosis, the authors also focus on treatment that is based on the needs for habilitation and/or rehabilitation that are apparent at the time of assessment. In addition to the basic principles and mechanics of assessment and protocol planning, the book discusses treatment of various types of lifetime developmental skills and further explores these with regard to different populations served and the various strategies that have been found to be effective. Chapter topics include philosophical concepts and historical perspectives, professional guidelines, assessment, motor skills, protocol planning, communication skills, cognitive skills, social-emotional skills, professional ethics and disclosure, an introduction to research, and a view to the future of music therapy. In addition to practicing and student music therapists, the book will be valuable resource to medical and mental health professionals, occupational therapists and other rehabilitation professionals, and music educators.