On Developing Music Therapy Goals and Objectives©

Abstract

In order to address the treatment of deficits through music therapy interventions, clinicians who assess human behaviors from a physiological perspective can target treatment goals and objectives to address more than just the symptoms of diagnoses. Clearer understand of Goal and Objective can help identify and address possible causes of mal-functions. This is possible when clinicians observe patients with a keen clinical eye for associating presenting problems with unobservable physiological reasons for them. This paper discusses the differences between a goal and an objective, and suggests how a clinical eye might focus long-range goals and short-term objectives from a physiologic perspective for any diagnosis. A sample case of autism is presented for the purpose of illuminating the suggested approach and terminologies discussed. Although the case is of a child with an Autism diagnosis, the information presented is transferable to other diagnoses and age groups. Clinical observations and sample goals and objectives discussed are based on the hypothesis that behavior is rooted in physiologic function resulting from information that is, or is not, available, that is either well perceived or ill-interpreted, by the brain, which thus calls for what appears as less functional behaviors. In considering treatment with music, interventions based on observed behaviors and responses will yield goals and objectives for possible causes of identified areas of deficiency, including psycho-emotional issues.