| Summary |
The purpose of this study was to learn more about parent/caregiver involvement with their children during individual music therapy sessions and how this involvement affects personal, relationship, and overall family benefits. Music therapists' attitudes about family involvement during the sessions were also addressed. Recruitment/consent emails and online surveys were sent to five private practice music therapists who currently treat children in individual music therapy. The therapists then forwarded the recruitment/consent email and survey to the parents/caregivers of their clients. The survey asked the parents about their own involvement and any family involvement (if applicable) during the music therapy sessions, how that involvement affects them and their relationships with their children, and involvement in music activities at home. In addition, each therapist returned a short survey about their preferences for parent/caregiver involvement during individual sessions. Five music therapists were asked to participate in this study and all five completed and returned the surveys on family/caregiver involvement with the children they treat in individual music therapy. Ten parent/caregivers started the survey and nine completed the survey with all or most of the questions answered. Information was gathered in a qualitative manner from the therapist and caregiver comments. There was a meaningful relationship between the therapist's involvement preference and family/caregiver involvement. The reported personal, family and child/caregiver relationship benefits of involvement were all positive. All parent/caregivers agreed that they interacted with their child at home using songs, games, and other interventions from music therapy sessions. There were no meaningful relationships between the location of the music therapy sessions and family/caregiver involvement or between the age of the child and family/caregiver involvement. |
