The affordances of group music therapy for caregivers’ well-being in a child and youth care centre

Abstract

Caregivers in a Child and Youth Care Centre face several challenges that might lead to poor well-being. The well-being of the caregivers can impact the quality of care they offer and their relationship with they care for. Psychosocial support through group music therapy can play a role in improving the well-being of caregivers. This study explores caregivers’ subjective perception and experience of group music therapy on their well-being and the ability to perform daily tasks. Using a case study design, data was collected in the form of semi-structured pre- and post-interviews, as well as video recordings from the group music therapy sessions attended by ten participants. The data was then coded and analysed thematically. Five themes for both the pre- and post-interview sessions were generated. The pre-interview themes focus on caregivers’ calling, roles, responsibilities, professional interactions and challenges. The post-interview themes cover caregivers’ experiences of processes, relationships, caregiving challenges, perceived value and benefits of music therapy, transfer of musical and facilitation skills, as well as release, reflection, and catharsis. Caregiver workload and schedules made it challenging to schedule group sessions, but they nevertheless experienced group music therapy as supportive on personal and professional grounds.