Clinical applications of feminist music therapy: An overview of the literature. Issue 2 (15th March 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bodry, Kendra; Schwantes, Melody
• Is Part Of: Nordic journal of music therapy. Volume 30:Issue 2(2021)
• Page Start: 106
• Page End: 130
• Publication Date: 2021-03-15
• Subjects: Music therapy -- feminist -- clinical work -- review of literature; Music therapy -- Scandinavia -- Periodicals; Music Therapy -- Periodicals; 615.85154
• DOI: 10.1080/08098131.2020.1753230
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0809-8131

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Introduction: Feminist work in music therapy includes a diversity of frameworks, and researchers have explored the theoretical, descriptive, and clinical work rooted in feminism. Music therapists incorporate feminist music therapy in ways that are considerate of their individual contexts, and we believe it is important to communicate clinical processes to serve as a starting place in which new practitioners can integrate feminist music therapy. Method: We reviewed feminist music therapy literature to discover how this theoretical position is used in clinical sessions. Sixty-nine articles, dissertations, chapters, and case examples were found, and of these eleven publications met our inclusion criteria of clinical applications of feminist informed music therapy. We overlaid Curtis's goals for feminist practice which included empowerment, egalitarianism, sociopolitical issues, social change, and the client's definition of optimal health functioning. Results: We found that all of the included publications documented empowerment and discussed egalitarianism. Nine included the client's voice, and almost all discussed culture or sociopolitical issues. More than half discussed social change, and half included the client's definition of optimal healthy functioning. We also outlined the various definitions of feminist music therapy practice the authors used. Discussion: While this review helps guide feminist informed music therapists in the possibilities for clinical applications of feminist music therapy, the clinical research and case examples pool is still small. We recommend that music therapists consider incorporating more social change in their clinical work. Limitations of our approach and interpretations are discussed.