Voices ResourcesA website for the worldwide community around the journal Voices: A World Forum for Music Therapy

Introduction

In order to understand the situation in Belgium, one must realize that the country consists mainly of two communities that are more or less autonomous; Flanders (Dutch speaking) and Walloon (French speaking), each with their own federal welfare, public health and educational system.

Until very recently, music therapists in these communities were unaware of each other's existence, and there was no contact between them. However, now the situation is different, and it is hoped that every effort will be made not only to learn about each other's work, but also to engage in cooperative efforts.

Associations

Professional Association for Music Therapy (BMT)

Figure 1: Belgium President: Marijke Schotsmans.

The professional Association for Music Therapy was founded in 1998. The association answers to the need of a register of professional music therapists in the country. Regulations (based on those from the EMTC) agree upon the admission to the association as a "candidate member" or a "full member." Being a member of the association implies also the membership of the European Music Therapy Confederation. Only masters of music therapy can be a member of the BMT. At this moment the BMT has 48 members.

The Belgian association represents its members in the negotiations with the government authorities concerning the recognition of the profession. It guarantees also the guard of professional quality and the code of ethics, gives legal advice and a good-fellowship support.

The maintenance of the professional quality is one of the main features. It manifests itself in the publication of a professional six-monthly newsletter, the organisation of an annual meeting, several workshops and lectures, an intervision-network and contacts with European and national recognised supervisors.

• E-mail:beroepsvereniging@muziektherapie.net
• Website:www.muziektherapie.net
• Address: BMT vzw., Philipssite, Postbus 1120, B-3001 Heverlee, Belgium

AREAM - the Association for Research, Education and Application of Music Therapy in the French speaking part of Belgium

AREAM has three main goals:

The AREAM centre provides individual and group music therapy sessions as well as musical animations for people with a wide variety of needs. There are four music therapists with different backgrounds (influenced by Benenzon, Nordoff-Robbins, Lecourt) working in the centre and in different institutions in Brussels.

AREAM promotes music therapy through publications, seminars and presentations at clinics, social and educational institutes in Belgium and elsewhere in Europe.

Over the past 10 years AREAM has promoted music therapy training based on "psycho-musical techniques." Starting in September 2006, there will be a new music therapy training programme run in collaboration with a college of psychology in Brussels. The programme will be a two years specialisation for musicians and health professionals.

• E-mail: areamcmt@hotmail.com
• Website: www.aream.be
• Address: AREAM music therapy centre, Rue Portaels 23, B-1030 Brussels, Belgium
• Tel/ fax: +32 (0)2 2453383

Training Courses - Master in Music Therapy in Belgium

Since 1993 the College of Science & Art, campus Lemmensinstituut, in association with the Catholic University of Leuven has offered a training course leading to a Master's Degree in Music Therapy. This full-time education takes 5 years and is organised in cooperation with the University of Leuven. It is the only official training for music therapists in Belgium, recognised by the government.

The Lemmensinstituut is a conservatoire with a very high reputation and level of training for performing musicians, composition, art of speech, pedagogy of music and music therapy. The Bachelor students in music therapy are required to have a good knowledge of music and good musical skills. The general musical atmosphere and the presence of leading musicians creates the opportunity for the students to take courses with famous performers and music specialists.

The course philosophy is psychoanalytically informed. This embedment in psychoanalysis is explained by the traditional openness of psychoanalysis for music and by the intensive theoretical thinking concerning the relationship between art and psyche within the Belgian psychoanalytic societies (Belgische School voor Psychoanalyse/Ecole Belge de Psychanalyse and the Gezelschap voor Psychoanalyse en Psychotherapie).

The Master Training Program at the Lemmensinstituut stands for a broad European orientation. Four times a year a visiting professor from another European country is invited to give workshops and seminars on specific topics. Specialists from abroad come to inform of their research results during the annual national congress 'Music and Psychiatry.' Students participate actively in exchange programs in abroad.

In 1998 the Lemmensinstituut hosted the 4th European Music Therapy Congress.

Figure 2: Lemmensinstituut.

Course Content

The Bachelor years provide a broad basic training. The development of the artist is especially accentuated, which enables the future music therapist to speak through and to fully understand the language of music. From the third year onwards the accent is put on the use of music in a clinical and therapeutic context.

During the Master years there is a harmonious balance between music and psychotherapy. Specific music therapy and psychotherapy courses are taught at the Lemmensinstituut, while the more general theoretical courses are given at the University of Leuven.

It is mandatory that the students engage in a minimum of two years individual psychotherapy and two years of group music therapy.

Because it is a lateral process only 8 candidates are admitted per year.

The practicum during the last two years (9 months in the fifth year) take place in the University Centre St.-Jozef in Kortenberg. This Centre with a very long tradition in the practise and research of Music Therapy has a department for music therapy with educational facilities and has qualified master's and doctoral music therapists who provide weekly supervision.

The program concludes with a Master's thesis.

Content of the Training

• Theory of Music Therapy: Bases and Principles of Music Therapy. History of Music Therapy. Music Therapy in psychiatry. Music Therapy in child psychiatry. Orthoagogic music practice. Theory of methodological work (observation, assessment, diagnosis, treatment plan, evaluation). Research methodology.
• Music Therapeutic Methods: General basic techniques and methods of active Music Therapy.
• Study of Clinical Therapy
• Study of case material (with case-description and presentation)
• Literature research seminars.
• Project learning: Four times a year a visiting professor from abroad is invited to give workshops and seminars during one week on specific topics (i.e. group dynamics, autism, musical improvisation, different music therapeutic models).
• Music Studies: Improvisation: piano, guitar, percussion, voice and another melodic instrument individually and in group. Clinical application of music in Music Therapy. Instrumental/vocal skills. Monodic instrument. Song and choir. Keyboard musicianship. Psychology of music. Music and society. History of art and music. Composition. Practical and theoretical harmony. Musical analysis. Music and movement. Philosophy of music.
• Medical and related studies: psychiatry and psychopathology, ortho-pedagogy, child psychiatry, models of psychotherapy, general and developmental psychology, psychoanalysis, psychotherapy, deontology/ethics, institutional psychotherapy, organisation of health and welfare, clinical practice, supervision.

Contact Address:

• Director of the program: Prof. Dr. Jos De Backer, PhD, Hogeschool voor Wetenschap & Kunst, campus Lemmensinstituut, Afdeling muziektherapie, Herestraat 53, B - 3000 Leuven, Belgium
• E-mail: jos.de.backer@uc-kortenberg.be
• Tel: 0032 16/ 23 39 67
• Fax: 0032 16/ 22 24 77

How to cite this page

De Backer, J. & Coomans, A. (2006). Music Therapy in Belgium. Voices Resources. Retrieved January 10, 2015, from http://testvoices.uib.no/community/?q=country-of-the-month/2006-music-therapy-belgium