Dos Santos, Andeline2021-02-082021-02-082021-042020-11Landzaad, J 2020, Exploring autonomy with youth at risk through the UpBeat project, MSc dissertation, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, viewed yymmdd http://hdl.handle.net/2263/78310A2021http://hdl.handle.net/2263/78310Dissertation (MMus (Music Therapy))--University of Pretoria 2020.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.en© 2019 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria.UCTDMusic therapy for adolescent autonomyAutonomyAdolescenePsychococial statges of developmentGroup music therapyYouth at riskSouth AfricaMusic theses SDG-03SDG-03: Good health and well-beingMusic theses SDG-04SDG-04: Quality educationMusic theses SDG-10SDG-10: Reduced inequalitiesMusic theses SDG-16SDG-16: Peace, justice and strong institutionsDissertation