Music Therapy With Adults With Learning Disabilities

Music Therapy with Adults with Learning Disabilities explores how music therapists work in partnership with people with learning disabilities to encourage independence and empowerment and to address a wide variety of everyday issues and difficulties. Comprehensive and wide-ranging, this book describes in detail the role and work of the music therapist with adults with learning disabilities. Many clinical examples are used, including casework with people with autism, asperger’s syndrome, profound and multiple learning disabilities and a dual diagnosis of learning disability and mental health problems. The book also explores issues of team work and collaborative working, considering how music therapists and their colleagues can best work together. The chapters are grouped into four sections; an introduction to current music therapy work and policy in the area, clinical work with individuals, clinical work with groups, and collaborative and team work. Guidelines for good practice are also provided. This is a thought-provoking and topical text for all those involved in work with adults with learning disabilities; it is essential reading for music therapists and fellow professionals, carers, policy makers and students.

Music Therapy with Adults with Learning Disabilities explores how music therapists work in partnership with people with learning disabilities to encourage independence and empowerment and to address a wide variety of everyday issues and difficulties. Comprehensive and wide-ranging, this book describes in detail the role and work of the music therapist with adults with learning disabilities. Many clinical examples are used, including casework with people with autism, asperger’s syndrome, profound and multiple learning disabilities and a dual diagnosis of learning disability and mental health problems. The book also explores issues of team work and collaborative working, considering how music therapists and their colleagues can best work together. The chapters are grouped into four sections; an introduction to current music therapy work and policy in the area, clinical work with individuals, clinical work with groups, and collaborative and team work. Guidelines for good practice are also provided. This is a thought-provoking and topical text for all those involved in work with adults with learning disabilities; it is essential reading for music therapists and fellow professionals, carers, policy makers and students.

The author describes how, in practice, music therapists work at child day care centres, adult day care centres and in other institutions. The first chapters cover the history and theory of working with music with people with developmental disabilities. The main body of the book covers discussion of the various methods, including individual and group work. Each method is described in terms of the clinical indications, the objectives set and the choice of techniques and musical instruments, and is illustrated through the use of case study. The final chapter draws conclusions for both theory and practice.

This book provides valuable insight into the work of professional music therapists in their clinical practice. The contributors discuss work with a diverse range of clients, including those suffering from Alzheimer's, anorexia nervosa, schizophrenia, psychosis, personality disorder, anxiety and psychosomatic disorder.

This is the first comprehensive overview of the present state of research in art therapy and music therapy in the UK. It challenges assumptions about research in these areas, and makes use of research models from art history and music analysis as well as the more orthodox psychological and medical models used in clinical work. Informative and reassuring for those interested in undertaking research, the book gives lively accounts of the personal process of the art therapy and music therapy researcher. It presents the reader with many original ideas and strategies, and will be an invaluable reference book for practitioners and students of art therapy and music therapy, as well as for health professionals who work with them.

Integrated Team Working describes collaborative multidisciplinary approaches and demonstrates that they can be valuable methods of music therapy intervention. The authors explain the development of the music therapist's role within the multidisciplinary team and discuss the prevalence of collaborative partnerships between UK music therapists and other professionals such as occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, psychologists, physiotherapists and other arts therapists. They examine the rationale, purpose and application of collaborative approaches and explore how and why music therapists adopt these approaches at differing levels. The book includes case studies from a variety of clinical settings, which illustrate the creative and innovative approaches used in transdisciplinary work in the evolving discipline of music therapy. This theoretical and practical guide offers useful advice for music therapy students and professionals who wish to employ collaborative approaches. It will also be helpful for other professionals who are considering or already working together with music therapists.

Music therapy is growing internationally to be one of the leading evidence-based psychosocial allied health professions to meet needs across the lifespan.The Oxford Handbook of Music Therapy is the most comprehensive text on this topic in its history. It presents exhaustive coverage of the topic from international leaders in the field.

Musical games and activities can significantly improve the social, emotional, cognitive and motor skills of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. However, many music therapy resources are written with children in mind, and it can be difficult to find suitable age-appropriate activity ideas for adults. This versatile collection of 100 group music activities is the perfect sourcebook to provide insight to music therapists who are new to working with this client group, and inspiration to those familiar with working with adults but in need of fresh ideas. Each activity is developed in depth, with clear goals and instructions, and includes easy adaptations to suit a wide range of ability levels. With accompanying online downloadable content and sheet music, this book contains a ready supply of lively and original songs that can be used by practitioners of all musical abilities. With this practical and inspiring resource, music therapists, caregivers and other professionals working with adults with developmental and cognitive disorders will never be short of age-appropriate ideas again.