Clinical Decision-Making in Music Together Within Therapy: Toward a Theoretical Framework

Abstract This exploratory sequential mixed methods study represents an initial attempt to identify factors music therapists consider when making clinical decisions during sessions with a parent–child dyad. Participants in the qualitative phase were music therapists (N = 3) who were involved in the development of the original Music Together Within Therapy (MTWT) program. Participants in the quantitative phase included music therapists (N = 20) who use MTWT in their clinical practice. A constructivist grounded theory analysis of the interview data resulted in three key findings: (1) a conceptual model of Four Values expressed by the respondents that informed the clinicians’ decisions, (2) a Layered Approach to Music in therapy with parent–child dyads based on these values, and (3) Nine Belief Statements regarding clinical decision-making in early childhood music therapy. The Nine Belief Statements regarding clinical decision-making in early childhood music therapy were integrated into a survey of music therapists (N = 20) who also used MTWT. A high degree of endorsement of the beliefs about clinical decision-making was found, consistent with Sears’ (Music-the therapeutic edge: Readings from William W. Sears. Barcelona Publishers, 2007) Processes of Music Therapy and Family Systems theory. The findings represent an emerging framework for understanding clinical decision-making in MTWT sessions with parent–child dyads. Future research should investigate the transferability of this emerging framework to early childhood music therapy sessions beyond the MTWT context.