Why Words Matter: How the Common Mis-use of the Term Music Therapy May Both Hinder and Help Music Therapists

Authors

  • Sarah Pearson Grand River Hospital Room 217 Foundation

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15845/voices.v18i1.904

Keywords:

music therapy, scope of practice, professional issues, health care professionals, professional boundaries

Abstract

This reflective paper examines occasions where medical studies refer to music therapy as a practice that can be used by non-music therapists. This common use of the term music therapy to describe any use of music for wellbeing, is an area of professional frustration and ethical concern for music therapists. The author explores reasons why the term music therapy is so commonly used to describe something other than the scope of practice; the impact on music therapists of this common misconception are discussed; and opportunities for music therapists to respond positively to these misconceptions are explored.

Author Biography

Sarah Pearson, Grand River Hospital Room 217 Foundation

Sarah Pearson, MMT, RP, MTA, is a music therapist and registered psychotherapist in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada. She is the founding music therapist in the oncology and palliative care units at Grand River Hospital, and is the program development coordinator for the Room 217 Foundation. She is a clinical supervisor in the undergraduate and graduate music therapy programs at Wilfrid Laurier University, and is a working singer-songwriter, soprano, and choral artist.

Published

2018-01-02

How to Cite

Pearson, S. (2018). Why Words Matter: How the Common Mis-use of the Term Music Therapy May Both Hinder and Help Music Therapists. Voices: A World Forum for Music Therapy, 18(1). https://doi.org/10.15845/voices.v18i1.904

Issue

Section

Reflections on Practice