An Evolving Understanding of a Professional Framework

One of the most challenging and rewarding aspects of returning to school is that I have the opportunity to gain a deeper insight into my clinical approach. Into why I do what I do. My theoretical framework.

There has not been a single “eureka!” moment. It’s more like an unfolding process, an evolving awareness of beliefs I have had, but have not necessarily been conscious of or been able to articulate.

So what is my approach? It’s largely developmental. I am a developmental music therapist.

This framework is largely based on my personal and professional belief that we continue to evolve, to grow, to learn, and to develop. I have traditionally considered “development” to apply mostly to children…and I have a feeling that I am not alone. But development happens across the lifespan, from the neurodevelopment that happens in utero as the neural tubes fold over and the central nervous system starts to —literally—take shape to the evolving cognitive, emotional, and spiritual development that continues to evolve as we age.

This is an approach that mirrors what I know about brain and behavior function, about plasticity and about how our experiences continue to change and shape the structure and function of our brain as we age.

It’s an approach that mirrors what I learned when working in rehabilitation about how we can re-wire our brain to gain as much functionality as possible when a system—motor, speech, cognitive, or otherwise—is broken.

It’s an approach that mirrors what I learned about preventive care, about the importance and power of providing enriching experiences and developmentally-appropriate therapies to try and counter the effects of early adverse experiences—poverty, neglect, abuse, disability, premature births, etc.

It’s an approach that mirrors my growing understanding of student development and how I can work to support and facilitate the learning trajectories of the music therapy students and interns I work with.

And it’s an approach that mirrors my own personal life as I reflect on the experiences and knowledge I have acquired and marvel about what is to come.

So at this point in time, with what I know now, I consider myself a developmental music therapist. Whether drawing from the psychological, spiritual, medical, rehabilitation, or neuroscience literature, my clinical approach is grounded in the belief that we and the students, clients, and families we work with are continually learning, evolving, and developing.

And if that changes as my knowledge base grows? Well then…I’ll let you know.

Tagged as: clinical framework, development, developmental music therapist, theoretical framework