Date of Award
5-2022
Document Type
Thesis
Selected Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Degree Name
Master of Science in Music Therapy
Department
Music Therapy
First Advisor
Kate Myers-Coffman
Abstract
Meaningful moments in music therapy sessions may only occur in small moments, imperceptible or fleeting, but can have a tremendous impact on the overall treatment process, especially in short-term medical settings. The literature on the topic of "meaningful moments" in music therapy is sparse, with even less mention of "meaningful moments" in single sessions or short-term clinical settings. In this study, I explored the personal experiences of music therapists to gain a better understanding and awareness of meaningful moments in short-term medical settings. I used semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis to explore the research question, “What are music therapists' experiences of meaningful moments in short-term medical settings?” The final themes that emerged were: 1) Affirming and connecting to one’s humanity, 2) Navigating challenges in facilitating meaningful moments due to the short-term setting, and 3) Impact of patient insight on recognizing meaningful moments. The clarification of these three themes contributes to developing therapist awareness and understanding of meaningful moments in a short-term setting and helps direct therapists to ways they can promote relevant moments in this time-constrained environment
Related Pillar(s)
Study
Recommended Citation
Lyu, Haojie, "Music Therapist Experiences of Meaningful Moments in Short-term Medical Settings: A Thematic Analysis" (2022). Theses & Dissertations. 128.
https://digitalcommons.molloy.edu/etd/128
