Levels of Music Therapy Interventions

Principles and Strategies

Need for Different Levels

Indications from research Traditional group therapies

Long-termCatharticInsight-oriented

• May be counterproductive in short-term inpatient work OR

• With chronic schizophrenic disorders

Wheeler’s Three Levels

These are adaptations identified in Unkefer/Thaut (pg. 182) Supportive - Activities-Oriented Music Therapy

Reeducative- Insight and Process Oriented Music Therapy

Reconstructive, Analytically and Catharsis Oriented MT

Supportive - Activities-Oriented Music Therapy

To Actively involve through

concrete activities Strengthen defenses Increase behavior control Develop healthy feelings

and thoughts Increase social interaction Expose patient to basic

group dynamics Diverting attention from

neurotic concerns

Not to Involve in insight-oriented

or cathartic work extensive verbal

processing of patient’s problems

Supportive - Activities-Oriented Music Therapy

To Provide the experience of success Social support Anxiety reduction

Used With Patients who are in acute/severe stages of disease Patients who cannot tolerate more demanding levels

of therapy

Reeducative Insight/Process-Oriented Music Therapy

To Reorganize values and behavior patterns Acquire new tension- and anxiety- relieving attitudes Assume responsibility for own thoughts and behavior

Focus is on TMI’s designed for feelings/thoughts that are verbally

processed within the therapy session The here-and-now interaction among group members Challenging maladaptive thoughts/behaviors

Reeducative Insight/Process-Oriented Music Therapy

TMI’s are designed to … Identify feelings Creative problem solving Facilitate behavior change No probing of subconscious conflicts, although … Help gain patient’s insight into her/his behavior

Reconstructive Analytically and Catharsis-Oriented Music Therapy

Patients To benefit from music therapy interventions and

strategies at this level of therapy, patients have to be committed to long-term therapy that challenges deeply embedded personality characteristics.

Therapists Usually require advanced training and supervision

Reconstructive Analytically and Catharsis-Oriented Music Therapy

The difference between reconstructive and reeducative therapeutic efforts lies in the degree and quality of insight required of the patient and the focus on past experiences as opposed to here-and-now thoughts and feelings.

Healthy behavior is achieved through eliciting unconscious material as opposed to concentrating on conscious thoughts and feelings or present behavior patterns.

Reconstructive Analytically and Catharsis-Oriented Music Therapy

TMI’s are often used to …. Elicit images or feelings that are associated with the

patient’s present or past.

Elicit awareness of crucial, unconscious conflicts and encourage change by living through deepest fears and conflicts with insight.

Influence psychosomatic dysfunctions and to break neurotic behavior systems.