Providing the Opportunity to Access Playfulness in Music Therapy with Adults in a Partial Hospital Program: The Implementation of a Method

Author

Carolynn WalkerFollow

Date of Award

5-22-2021

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

MA - Master of Arts

Department

Expressive Therapies

Advisor

Denise Malis

Abstract

This thesis explores playfulness in the therapeutic relationship and in music therapy with adults in a partial hospital program. Playfulness is shown to be an effective tool in mental health treatment, aiding in the development of coping skills (Magnuson & Barnett, 2013). A method was applied in order to establish to what extent that playfulness is present and able to be accessed. Five music therapy groups took place with adults age eighteen and older in a partial hospital program that was being conducted in a hybrid (both virtual and in-person) format. Clinical observations concluded that playfulness can be accessed in music therapy for adults in acute mental health treatment, and may have an impact on the therapeutic relationship. Further research into how accessible playfulness is in this population, specifically in the context of music therapy, is suggested.

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Recommended Citation

Walker, Carolynn, "Providing the Opportunity to Access Playfulness in Music Therapy with Adults in a Partial Hospital Program: The Implementation of a Method" (2021). Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses. 468.
https://digitalcommons.lesley.edu/expressive_theses/468