Dyadic music therapy in the context of substance use disorder

Abstract

One of the most detrimental effects of a substance use disorder (SUD) is the breakdown of meaningful familial and interpersonal relationships. In this qualitative study, I aimed to explore the experiences and reflections of persons in treatment for SUDs and their close family members or partners in a dyadic music therapy assessment phase. By utilising Thematic Analysis (TA) informed by Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), I sought to explore the meanings, perceptions, and the impact of music during a music therapy assessment phase on the recovery process within the context of dyadic relationships. Sessions for this study took place at an out-patient community-oriented rehabilitation programme in Pretoria and consisted of two 45–60-minute assessment sessions with three dyads. The first was structured as an interview, with the option for actively using music. The second was a semi-structured music therapy assessment session. The study found that six overarching themes emerged out of the music therapy assessment across all three dyads, with each presenting in different and complex ways in each case. The affordances of musical engagement in the process could be summarised as inviting an alternative form of communication, offering opportunities to reflect on the nature of the relationship, offering playful and/or explorative way of being together, offering opportunities to reflect on the substance use journey, offering a space to explore needs, and addressing resources and fostering ambition.

One of the most detrimental effects of a substance use disorder (SUD) is the breakdown of meaningful familial and interpersonal relationships. In this qualitative study, I aimed to explore the experiences and reflections of persons in treatment for SUDs and their close family members or partners in a dyadic music therapy assessment phase. By utilising Thematic Analysis (TA) informed by Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), I sought to explore the meanings, perceptions, and the impact of music during a music therapy assessment phase on the recovery process within the context of dyadic relationships. Sessions for this study took place at an out-patient community-oriented rehabilitation programme in Pretoria and consisted of two 45–60-minute assessment sessions with three dyads. The first was structured as an interview, with the option for actively using music. The second was a semi-structured music therapy assessment session. The study found that six overarching themes emerged out of the music therapy assessment across all three dyads, with each presenting in different and complex ways in each case. The affordances of musical engagement in the process could be summarised as inviting an alternative form of communication, offering opportunities to reflect on the nature of the relationship, offering playful and/or explorative way of being together, offering opportunities to reflect on the substance use journey, offering a space to explore needs, and addressing resources and fostering ambition.