A Bigger Picture: Community Music Therapy Groups in Residential Settings for People with Learning Disabilities

Authors

  • Alistair Robert Clarkson
  • Meta Killick

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15845/voices.v16i3.845

Keywords:

Community Music Therapy, systemic thinking, ecological music therapy, learning disabilities, intellectual disabilities, support workers

Abstract

This article introduces our development of the concepts of Community Music Therapy and systemic thinking within our music therapy service. The work, which was in a supported living setting for adults with learning disabilities (intellectual disabilities), was set up in response to the challenges of providing a more conventional music therapy service within the London Borough of Sutton Clinical Health Team for people with learning disabilities (Intellectual disabilities). We discovered that collectively our clients, their support workers, and ourselves were being reduced in our human value by not being seen or heard. The Clinical Health Team for people with Learning Disabilities is made up of a variety of health professionals and is part of the London Borough of Sutton's Disability Services. The creative therapy part of the service is music and dramatherapy. Creative therapies look at a wide range of emotional and mental health needs for people with learning disabilities such as depression, anxiety, challenging behaviour, transition, and change.

Author Biographies

Alistair Robert Clarkson

Alistair ClarksonMusic TherapistHCPC AS02290Alistair is a multi-instrumentalist having worked as a writer and performer in Musical Theatre. He graduated with a First Class Honours Degree in Music from Chichester University in 2001. In 2002 he received his Post Graduate Diploma in Music Therapy from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. Since qualifying, he has been working with both children and adults, specialising in the field of Autism.  His work has included individual and group work with people with learning disabilities, self-referred non impaired adults and people living with dementia. Alistair joined Sutton and Merton PCT as a Music Therapist in 2005 and transferred to Sutton council in 2009. When working for the PCT he was based at Orchard Hill, a long stay hospital for adults with learning disabilities. He was a member of ‘The Bridge Project’, which was established to offer emotional support for residents during the transition process. Currently Alistair has a busy practice working for Richmond Music Trust, Parity for Disability (Priors Court School) and the London Borough of Sutton

Meta Killick

HCPC AS 001111MA Music Therapy.Meta has been a professional music therapist since 1989 when she achieved her City University diploma in Nordoff – Robbins Music Therapy. In 2006 gained her Masters degree in Music Therapy from Anglia Ruskin university.Meta has worked with a range of client groups including paediatrics, adult psychiatry and work with adults cognitive impairments. She is also a BAMT registered supervisor.Meta Killick joined Sutton and Merton PCT as a music therapist in 2007 and transferred to Sutton council in 2009. When working for the PCT she was based at Orchard Hill and participated in the closure process of this long stay hospital for adults with learning disabilities.Meta is now a music therapist in the clinical health team in Sutton Council where she facilitates groups and also offers 1-1 therapy in palliative care. Since 2013 she has also been working as a music therapist in the Making Safeguarding Personal Project. As well as working for currently Sutton council and running her own private practise, she is a freelance harpist with her own Flute & Harp duo Bagatelle.

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Published

2016-09-06

How to Cite

Clarkson, A. R., & Killick, M. (2016). A Bigger Picture: Community Music Therapy Groups in Residential Settings for People with Learning Disabilities. Voices: A World Forum for Music Therapy, 16(3). https://doi.org/10.15845/voices.v16i3.845

Issue

Section

Reflections on Practice