Practice makes perfect sense to me: a retrospective analysis of recommending independent skills practice in music therapy for military-connected individuals

Introduction: Therapeutic disciplines have researched the use of independent skills practice (i.e., homework) and its impact on patient outcomes, but research on this topic in music therapy has been limited and contradictory. Methods: This retrospective, exploratory study used a correlational approach to explore the use of recommending independent skills practice between music therapy sessions for military-connected individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and/or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Board-certified music therapists (MT-BCs) developed a standardized templated note (i.e., a standardized clinical documentation form) that tracked patient care outcomes of military-connected individuals across treatment. Relevant to this paper, the template captured the number of patient-reported symptoms for each session and if the MT-BCs recommended independent skills practices (i.e., homework) for the patient to apply outside of sessions. If MT-BCs recommended independent skills practice, they recorded the goal-based skill the practice addressed. Results: This paper found that patients who had more sessions wherein MT-BCs recommended independent skills practice reported fewer symptoms both in the following session and at discharge. This paper also provides examples of independent skills practice recommendations and found that 80% were related to either treatment or life conditions. Although this study is retrospective and correlational, it provides preliminary evidence that recommending independent skills practice that is aligned with treatment goals for patients to complete between music therapy sessions could potentially be linked to a more beneficial therapeutic process. Discussion: This paper discusses purposeful methods for independent skills practice and their impact on music therapy treatment for military-connected populations with TBI and/or PTSD. However, stronger, randomized-controlled trials are needed.