I'm a Music Therapist

Last week, I had the treat of going out on a double date with a music therapist and her husband. As the four of us enjoyed dinner, the music therapists starting quizzing the gentlemen about whether they knew what music therapy was after being in a relationship with an MT-BC (music therapist-board certified). My boyfriend looked at me with a smirk and said, “Well, you’ve certainly taught me what music therapy is not.”

I have the feeling that I’ve put everyone in my life through the “music therapy advocacy” talk at least once over the past eight years I’ve been involved in the field. Whether it’s my brother sharing about the music recreation groups at the behavioral health hospital he works at or seeing #musictherapy at the bottom of a playlist shared on Tumblr, it’s easy to find a soapbox to climb onto as a music therapist. Explaining why the term “music therapy” needs to used judiciously is difficult, especially when the public often equates music therapy to iPod listening or other inappropriate examples.

To explain the importance of using “music therapy” correctly (in reference to music’s clinical application to non-musical goals within a therapeutic relationship), I turn to a subject that has earned its fair share of eye rolls: the gluten free diet.

In case you haven’t caught up on your eating trends yet, a gluten-free diet consists of foods that do not contain the protein gluten found in grains such as wheat, barley, and rye. The gluten free diet is meant for those diagnosed with celiac disease (in which gluten causes inflammation of the small intestines). However, it has exploded in pop culture over the last few years. Celebrities including Miley Cyrus, Lady Gaga, and Gwyneth Paltrow have given up gluten…without necessarily having a gluten intolerance. Many have followed suit with health magazines outlining how to go gluten free and gluten free menu items popping up everywhere from fine dining to fast food. The gluten free fad has even led comedian Jimmy Kimmel to do a skit revolving around people’s uneducated perceptions of the diet.

Check out the video out below for a few laughs.

Now this is where music therapy and gluten free diets are linked. While both are increasing in popularity and awareness, there is a disconnect between the general public’s perception of these phrases and what they actually mean. Throwing them around imprecisely diminishes the focus and clinical implications of these terms. For those with celiac’s disease, their diet and lifestyle may be dismissed as a unimportant when in fact it serves as dietary intervention for their bodies.

Similarly, when #musictherapy is added as tag to a concert, album, or other incorrect application, understanding of clinical music therapy is diluted. Labeling just about anything “music therapy” undermines the foundation of evidence, professional training, and clinical expertise of music therapists. Without recognition of music therapy (both in the public’s understanding and the political domain), potential clients will continue to be under-served and facilities will be under-educated about how to best harness music’s benefits for their members.

I want to point out that the popularization of gluten free diets has increased the number of products that those with celiac disease can buy. In the same way, the growing interest in music’s applications to healthcare can open many opportunities for music therapists to educate others about their work. Finding this balance between raising awareness of music’s power and its appropriate, clinical applications will continue to be explored by music therapists and other music practitioners.

Still, the advocacy march continues on for music therapists and their clients. While the public’s full understanding may be years away, let’s commit today to using “music therapy” judiciously and thoughtfully for the interest of all involved (and that means everyone).