Exploring autonomy with youth at risk through the UpBeat project

Abstract

This research study sought to examine if and how ten youth referred for being “at risk” at a high school in Johannesburg, South Africa could explore and express their autonomy through a music therapy process. Within this qualitative case study, video and focus group data were analysed using Braun and Clarke’s (2017) reflexive thematic analysis methods. Four themes emerged, namely adolescents’ formulation of their autonomy, navigating autonomy in context, opportunities to explore and express autonomy within the music therapy process specifically, and transfer and application into daily life. Autonomy was found to be both an individual pursuit and a relational process for these adolescents. Both of these aspects were explored in an integrated way through this group music therapy intervention. This indicated that music therapy is a useful approach for youth deemed to be “at risk” because the process can hold both the growth of an individual and their need for independence, whilst simultaneously offering belonging within a contained group process.