I found this article very interesting. It made me
consider things that I’d never taken time to consider before. For instance, what do you do when a client’s needs conflict with your personal beliefs or boundaries? How would I deal with that? What could I do to make myself feel less uncomfortable? Is there a way to have the best of both worlds? Can I meet my own needs and those of the client? Which should I put first? These are all very important questions that I should address before finishing my Music Therapy degree and venturing
into the field.
Kim writes of her experiences with a child (Hyun) with a mild form of Cerebral Palsy and Pervasive Developmental Disorder - Not Otherwise Specified. She was to concentrate on his difficulties with communication and interacting with others. Hyun enjoyed Music Therapy from the beginning. He stated that he’d love to have it every day and never leave. As his attachment to Kim grew she began to be like a mother figure to him. He began to stay as near to her as possible and to copy the things she did. He even refused to play a different instrument from her. As this continued Kim began to feel more and more intruded upon. Through research and hard work Kim was able to come to understand Hyun’s state of mind and accept what he needed from her. Because of this she was able to achieve her own comfort in the session as well as provide Hyun with the structure he needed to be able to reach his potential.
As previously stated, this article really got me thinking. It is difficult to perform your best when you are in a situation that makes you feel uncomfortable. I think it was very admirable of Kim not only to persevere during a difficult time in her sessions but also to take the initiative to find out why it was happening and to learn what she could do to correct it. I don’t generally believe in stating how I’d react in a given situation until it occurs. However, I imagine my own methods of reaching the child might not have been as proactive as Kim’s. Hopefully, since reading this article I will take into account alternate ways of assessing and dealing with issues that arise within a session.