Music Therapy as a Short-Term Intervention with Individuals and Families in a Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service

Abstract

There seems to be a growing interest in both music therapy with families and short-term therapy, and a body of music therapy literature relating to these areas. Within the context of waiting list targets in the NHS, therapists are increasingly experiencing a demand for short-term, effective interventions that are easily accessible for families and individuals. This paper describes a way of working that has developed through clinical work at Tanglewood, the Children's Day Resource at Leicestershire Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) and focuses on the use of music therapy as a short-term intervention that has developed with individuals and families. Case studies will be used to illustrate a model of short-term work and some relevant literature will also be discussed.