Date of Award

5-28-2024

Document Type

Thesis

Copyright Status, No Creative Commons License

All Rights Reserved

Degree Name

Master of Science in Music Therapy

Department

Music Therapy

School

School of Arts & Sciences

First Advisor

Stephenie Sofield

Abstract

This study explored the experiences of stigma amongst practicing music therapists living with depression and/or anxiety. Three study participants were selected from social media groups through purposive sampling. Participants were board-certified music therapists (MT-BC's) living in the United States. They all had been practicing as full-time music therapists for at least 5 years and had depression and/or anxiety for a minimum of 2 years during practice as an MT-BC. Qualitative data sources included in-depth interviews with participants conducted over Zoom. The results of the study suggest that music therapists' experiences of stigma for their mental illness (MI) had a negative impact on their mental health journey, life, and career. The thematic analysis of interviews yielded four themes: Music Therapists with MI Experience Self-, Institutional, and Public Stigma; Music Therapists with MI Need Changes in Society’s Perception of MI, Education, and Workplace Environments; Disclosure, Education, and Self-Reflection are Tools to Tackle Stigma, and Learning to Live with MI is a Process. The results of this study suggest that further research is needed to raise awareness of an underexplored but serious issue, combat stigma, and further develop anti-stigma initiatives to support music therapists with MI.

Related Pillar(s)

Study

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