Profession music therapist

Music therapists use music-therapeutic interventions to treat patients with behavioural disorders and pathogenic conditions to prevent, mitigate or eliminate symptoms and to change behaviours and attitudes requiring treatment. They promote and maintain or restore the development, maturity and health of the patient/client by music-therapeutic interventions. Music therapy especially provides help for people with with emotional, somatic, intellectually or socially induced behavioural disorders and pathogenic conditions, such as psychoses (schizophrenic disorders, bipolar disorders) and personality development disorders.  

Would you like to know what kind of career and professions suit you best? Take our free Holland code career test and find out.

Personality Type

• Social / Investigative
• Investigative / Social
• Artistic / Social

Knowledge

• Health care legislation

  The patients` rights and responsibilities of health practitioners and the possible repercussions and prosecutions in relation to medical treatment negligence or malpractice.

• Psychotherapy principles

  The fundamental principles and methods applied in psychotherapy to explore and resolve distressing behaviour or feelings.

• Types of music therapies

  The different types of music therapies such as active, receptive and functional music therapy.

• Music therapy processes

  The development stage of a music therapy process which includes receiving patients referred to from healthcare professionals, educational professionals, completing an assessment through the study of medical or education records, interviewing the patient and observing the patient`s responses to music therapy techniques.

• Medical studies

  The basics and terminology of medical studies.

• Anthropology

  The study of development and behaviour of human beings.

• Disability types

  The nature and types of disabilities affecting the human beings such as physical, cognitive, mental, sensory, emotional or developmental and the specific needs and access requirements of disabled people.

• Psychopathology

  The criteria of psychiatric diagnoses, the use of the disease classification system, and the theories of psychopathology. The indicators of functional and organic disorders and the types of psychopharmacological medications.

• Peer group methods

  The techniques relevant for peer group education, where each member is encouraged to express or exchnage a particular type of behaviour or piece of information.

• Personal development

  The techniques and methods used to improve awareness and identity and develop talents and potential in human beings.

• Psychopharmacology

  The awareness of various effects that medicines have on the patient or client's behaviour, mood and thinking.

• Behavioural therapy

  The characteristics and foundations of behavioural therapy, which focuses on changing patients` unwanted or negative behaviour. It involves studying the present behaviour and the means by which this can be un-learned.

• Planning principles for music therapy interventions

  The international classification systems (ICD, DSM), clinical-psychological diagnostics and psychodynamics for the planning of music therapy interventions.

• Cognitive psychology

  The human mental processes such as attention, memory, language use, perception, problem solving, creativity and thinking.

• Psychiatric diagnostics

  The diagnostic systems and scales applied in psychiatry to determine the type of mental health disorder in adults, children and elderly.

• Applied music therapy

  The manifestations, symptoms and causes of illnesses and how they can be treated through music therapy.

• History of musical instruments

  The historical background and chronology of various musical instruments.

• Health care occupation-specific ethics

  The moral standards and procedures, ethical questions and obligations specific to occupations in a health care setting such as respect for human dignity, self-determination, informed consent and patient confidentiality.

• Human psychological development

  The human psychological development across the lifespan, theories of personality development, cultural and environmental influences, human behavior, including developmental crises, disability, exceptional behavior, and addictive behavior.

• Geriatrics

  Geriatrics is a medical specialty mentioned in the EU Directive 2005/36/EC.

• Reflexion

  The way to listen to individuals, to summarise the major points and clarify what they are feeling in order to help them reflect on their behaviour.

• Paediatrics

  Paediatrics is a medical specialty mentioned in the EU Directive 2005/36/EC.

• Inter-professional communication in the psychosocial field

  The characteristics, the means and communication channels used between professionals in the psycho-social field, the specialised terminology and type of support.

• Sociology

  The group behaviour and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.

• Developmental possibilities in music therapy interventions

  The developmental possibilities, motivation and impact on human thinking, awareness and actions and their importance for psychosocial and music-therapeutic interventions.

• Music therapy theories

  The meta-theories, theories and practical concepts and interventions in music therapy and other scientific disciplines such as medicine, psychology, psychotherapy, music science and music pedagogics.

• Neonatology

  The branch of paediatric medicine concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of the new-born.

• Music therapy schools

  The existing schools teaching music therapy and their importance for advancement in the field.

• Neurology

  Neurology is a medical specialty mentioned in the EU Directive 2005/36/EC.

• Psychological theories

  The historical development of counselling and psychological theories, as well as the perspectives, applications, and interviewing and counselling strategies.

• Palliative settings

  The arrangement of the surrounding environment to alleviate the pain of patients in need of palliative care.

• Music therapy clinical practice

  The therapeutic and musical support provided to facilitate effective treatment involving music-based interventions for patients in the medical setting such as a clinic.

Skills

• Use therapeutic communication techniques

  Use communication techniques in a therapeutic manner to support the patient during the therapy sessions, encouraging descriptions of perceptions, offering help, giving recognition, seeking clarification and summarising.

• Demonstrate a technical foundation in musical instruments

  Demonstrate an appropriate foundation on the technical workings and terminology of musical instruments such as voice, piano, guitar, and percussion.

• Empathise with the healthcare user

  Understand the background of clients` and patients’ symptoms, difficulties and behaviour. Be empathetic about their issues; showing respect and reinforcing their autonomy, self-esteem and independence. Demonstrate a concern for their welfare and handle according to the personal boundaries, sensitivities, cultural differences and preferences of the client and patient in mind.

• Direct movement experiences

  Assist clients or patients in moving in a structured or improvisatory manner for expressive purposes.

• Apply health sciences

  Apply a broad range of bio-medical, psycho-social, organisational, educational, and societal aspects of health, disease, and healthcare to improve healthcare services and to improve quality of life.

• Formulate a case conceptualisation model for therapy

  Compose an individualised treatment plan in collaboration with the individual, striving to match his or her needs, situation, and treatment goals to maximise the probability of therapeutic gain; considering any possible personal, social, and systemic barriers that might undermine treatment.

• Meet the requirements of legal bodies

  Ensure the practice methods and procedures used are in compliance with the regulations and requirements of the legal governing authority in the field.

• Integrate scientific findings into music therapy practice

  Use the information gathered from various scientific findings and research to feed the daily practice and bring about improvements and innovation in the therapeutic interventions used in music therapy.

• Provide directions in music therapy sessions

  Give directions to patients during music therapy sessions, including verbal hints and body language.

• Comply with quality standards related to healthcare practice

  Apply quality standards related to risk management, safety procedures, patients feedback, screening and medical devices in daily practice, as they are recognized by the national professional associations and authorities.

• Develop educational materials on music therapy

  Develop materials to educate patients, caregivers, staff, and the public about music therapy.

• Identify characteristics of music

  Identify the elemental, structural, and stylistic characteristics of music from various periods and cultures.

• Provide health education

  Provide evidence based strategies to promote healthy living, disease prevention and management.

• Work in a multicultural environment in health care

  Interact, relate and communicate with individuals from a variety of different cultures, when working in a healthcare environment.

• Use music according to the needs of patients

  Select and adapt music, musical instruments, and equipment to accord with the strengths and needs of the patients.

• Apply context specific clinical competences

  Apply professional and evidence based assessment, goal setting, delivery of intervention and evaluation of clients, taking into account the developmental and contextual history of the clients, within one`s own scope of practice.

• Design evaluation methods in music therapy

  Design methods for evaluating and measuring client progress and the effectiveness of therapeutic strategies within music therapy.

• Assess music therapy sessions

  Review and assess music therapy sessions to monitor their effectiveness and to facilitate the planning of any subsequent sessions.

• Apply music therapy termination methods

  Decide, together with the patient, on the methods to be used to conclude the music therapy sessions.

• Educate on the prevention of illness

  Offer evidence-based advice on how to avoid ill health, educate and advise individuals and their carers on how to prevent ill health and/or be able to advise how to improve their environment and health conditions. Provide advice on the identification of risks leading to ill health and help to increase the patients' resilience by targeting prevention and early intervention strategies.

• Identify patients' behaviours

  Analyse and identify patient`s functional and dysfunctional behaviours.

• Play musical instruments

  Manipulate purpose-built or improvised instruments to produce musical sounds.

• Apply related sciences to music therapy

  Use psychological or sociological elements in delivering music therapy.

• Respond to changing situations in health care

  Cope with pressure and respond appropriately and in time to unexpected and rapidly changing situations in healthcare.

• Work in multidisciplinary health teams

  Participate in the delivery of multidisciplinary health care, and understand the rules and competences of other healthcare related professions.

• Follow clinical guidelines

  Follow agreed protocols and guidelines in support of healthcare practice which are provided by healthcare institutions, professional associations, or authorities and also scientific organisations.

• Provide treatment strategies for challenges to human health

  Identify possible treatment protocols for the challenges to human health within a given community in cases such as infectious diseases of high consequences at the global level.

• Ensure safety of healthcare users

  Make sure that healthcare users are being treated professionally, effectively and safe from harm, adapting techniques and procedures according to the person's needs, abilities or the prevailing conditions.

• Maintain healthcare user data confidentiality

  Comply with and maintain the confidentiality of healthcare users` illness and treatment information.

• Advise on healthcare users' informed consent

  Ensure patients/clients are fully informed about the risks and benefits of proposed treatments so they can give informed consent, engaging patients/clients in the process of their care and treatment.

• Listen actively

  Give attention to what other people say, patiently understand points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times; able to listen carefully the needs of customers, clients, passengers, service users or others, and provide solutions accordingly.

• Apply organisational techniques

  Employ a set of organisational techniques and procedures which facilitate the achievement of the goals set. Use these resources efficiently and sustainably, and show flexibility when required.

• Design music therapy termination plan

  Create the components of a music therapy termination plan, which provides conclusions on patient progress and the reason behind the termination of therapy.

• Apply music therapy assessment methods

  Apply specific music therapy procedures and methods for client evaluation and possible preliminary diagnosis.

• Manage healthcare users' data

  Keep accurate client records which also satisfy legal and professional standards and ethical obligations in order to facilitate client management, ensuring that all clients' data (including verbal, written and electronic) are treated confidentially.

• Deal with emergency care situations

  Assess the signs and be well-prepared for a situation that poses an immediate threat to a person's health, security, property or environment.  

• Inform policy makers on health-related challenges

  Provide useful information related to health care professions to ensure policy decisions are made in the benefit of communities.

• Use e-health and mobile health technologies

  Use mobile health technologies and e-health (online applications and services) in order to enhance the provided healthcare.

• Recognise patients' reaction to therapy

  Respond to significant changes, patterns and dangers in the patient's response to therapy.

• Encourage healthcare user's self-monitoring

  Encourage the healthcare user to engage in self-monitoring by conducting situational and developmental analyses on him- or herself. Assist the healthcare user to develop a degree of self-critique and self-analysis in regards to his behaviour, actions, relationships and self-awareness.

• Communicate effectively in healthcare

  Communicate effectively with patients, families and other caregivers, health care professionals, and community partners.

• Demonstrate musicianship

  Show knowledge, technical skill and sensitivity when performing music on a principal instrument or voice.

• Accept own accountability

  Accept accountability for one`s own professional activities and recognise the limits of one`s own scope of practice and competencies.

• Apply music therapy treatment methods

  Use various active and receptive intervention techniques in music therapy such as singing, playing instruments, improvising or rhythmic based experiences.

• Promote inclusion

  Promote inclusion in health care and social services and respect diversity of beliefs, culture, values and preferences, keeping in mind the importance of equality and diversity issues.

• Perform musical improvisations in therapy

  Improvise music as a reaction to what the patient is communicating, in order to enhance the individual nature of the relationship between therapist and patient. Improvise instrumentally, vocally, or physically to meet client's therapeutic needs.

• Apply music therapy methods

  Apply existing music therapy methods, techniques, materials, and equipment in line with the patient`s therapeutic needs and the treatment plan already created.

• Comply with legislation related to health care

  Comply with the regional and national legislation that is relevant to one`s work and apply it in practice.

• Respond to incidents in music therapy sessions

  Recognize, interpret, and respond appropriately to significant incidents in music therapy sessions.

• Provide feedback on patient's communication style

  Provide feedback on, reflect, rephrase, and translate patients` communication.

• Review music therapy treatment approaches

  Modify and revise treatment plans as needed based on patient`s response to therapy.

• Organise relapse prevention

  Help the patient or client identify and anticipate high risk situations or external and internal triggers. Support them in developing better coping strategies and back-up plans in case of future difficulties.

• Motivate patiens

  Encourage the patient's motivation to change and promote the belief that therapy can help, using techniques and treatment engagement procedures for this purpose.

• Plan music therapy sessions

  Make a treatment plan, outlining possible strategies and musical experiences that might be helpful in meeting the patient`s needs, setting clear goals for the patients to achieve and agreeing on a programme of activity with the patient, to be reviewed at regular intervals.

• Develop original melodies

  Create impromptu compositions for accompaniment or solo parts, for vocal or instrumental performance in different musical genres.

• Assess the patient's therapeutic needs

  Observe and assess the patient`s behaviour, attitudes and emotions in order to understand if and how their therapeutic needs can be met with a specific kind of therapy, collecting and analysing information on how the client makes, responds to, and relates to artistic stimulae. Relate this information to other aspects of the patient`s life.

• Implement evaluation methods in music therapy

  Implement methods for evaluating and measuring client progress and the effectiveness of therapeutic strategies.

• Develop a collaborative therapeutic relationship

  Develop a mutually collaborative therapeutic relationship during treatment, fostering and gaining healthcare users' trust and cooperation.

• Record treated patient's information

  Record information accurately relating to the progress of the patient during therapy sessions.

• Hold group music therapy sessions

  Hold music therapy sessions in groups to encourage patients to explore sound and music, taking an active role in sessions by playing, singing, improvising and listening.

• Record healthcare users' progress related to treatment

  Record the healthcare user's progress in response to treatment by observing, listening and measuring outcomes.

• Conduct musical ensembles

  Lead the way in melodic, vocal or instrument sequences.

• Contribute to continuity of health care

  Contribute to the delivery of coordinated and continuous healthcare.

• Perform repertoire for therapeutic purposes

  Perform appropriate undergraduate repertoire in music therapy sessions, according to the needs of the patient.

• Meet the requirements of social security reimbursement bodies

  Ensure that the sessions are compliant with the requirements of the national social security bodies and that reimbursements are acceptable.

• Interact with healthcare users

  Communicate with clients and their carer’s, with the patient’s permission, to keep them informed about the clients’ and patients’ progress and safeguarding confidentiality.

Optional knowledge and skills

Source: Sisyphus ODB