Exploring the role of music therapy in the nurturing of personhood in a male psychogeriatic ward

Abstract

This clinical enquiry, based on clinical work undertaken during an internship, explores the role of music therapy in the nurturing of personhood of persons in a male psychogeriatric ward. The purpose of the enquiry is to draw insights into the role of music therapy in fostering personhood, not only in patients, but nursing staff members, who were included in the weekly music therapy group. The music therapy sessions included a variety of musical activities with many opportunities for performing. Over the course of thirteen sessions, clinical material was selected via purposive sampling, in the form of three video excerpts, and text lifted from observation notes. This material was analyzed using the research methods of coding, categorizing and identifying themes. The emerging themes are opportunities for growth of personal worth; experience of a changing group and self-identity; community: being in social relationship with others; and musical interplay: expression through music. It appears that music therapy indeed played a role in nurturing the personhood of group members, through the affordance of opportunities, and through enablement and empowerment of the individuals and the group. It would seem that including staff in the music therapy groups, developed not only their own personhood, but the personhood of the patient. This may have implications in music therapists’ view of the role of the nursing staff member within a music therapy group. Staff may be seen as, not only perfunctory helpers, but as a contributing, equal members of a music therapy group.