Work with people who are dying is painful and no palliative caregiver is exempt from this. The emotional pain associated with being a palliative care music therapist is related to professional training, the experience of being a professional minority and newcomer in the workplace, and the intensity and intimacy of the musical workspace. Questions are posed to facilitate music therapist self-reflection. Therapist self-acceptance includes tolerance for imperfection, which, in turn, affects the music's capacity for containment.
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