Boundaries in music therapy
Boundaries are important because they provide structure when we engage in a field that requires a large amount of care and understanding. Being a music therapist is not an easy job. There are moments of joy, laughter, and song, but there are also moments of difficulty and hardship. By setting boundaries, we can ensure that the relationships with ourselves, our clients, and our profession remain intact. When we do not create boundaries and those lines are crossed, we can build up resentment and hurt. This can lead to burnout and a disdain for something that we cared about and put our hearts into.
One boundary we can set is for ourselves and our work. It is okay to put a lot of ourselves into our work. We can push ourselves and take breaks when we feel it is appropriate. The life of an intern will absolutely look different than that of a music therapy professional. We are learning so much and at the same time, we are dipping our feet into the field. Balance can be hard to find and for me I had a lot of difficulty in the beginning of my internship setting boundaries with work. However, towards the end, I was able to make time for my work, the sessions, and my other job (which I was working part time). It did take a lot of organizing and maximizing my time with each part. For professionals, working off the clock is a boundary that can easily be crossed. If we’re doing work when we’re not being paid, that can lead to resentment. So, when you clock out, take off your music therapy cap. This doesn’t mean we can’t advocate or think about music therapy, but your work must be done within the confines of your hours. In order to do good work while you’re at work, you must take care of yourself both on and off the clock.
Another boundary we can set is with our clients. We do the best we can to provide the best service possible for our clients, but sometimes there are factors out of our control that can make this difficult. If our client is aggressive towards us or if they are not benefiting from the session from our observation, try getting a second opinion. Ask your supervisor or ask to be supervised by another music therapist and see if they have recommendations or if there is something that you could be doing differently. If you don’t have access to supervision, record your session on video and watch yourself or reach out to a member of the client’s treatment team for insight. If, after the recommendations are taken and there is still difficulty connecting with the client, it may be appropriate to talk with the client or guardian about possibly finding a new therapist. Sometimes, people just don’t connect and that’s okay. Recognize that you tried your best to make it work and support the client and sometimes, it is better for all parties involved to move on. This boundary can often be tied with self-worth, but remember, the music therapist you are today is always developing. The more you recognize that, the less you’ll beat yourself up over having to end services with a client. During my internship, I had sessions where clients yelled at me or threw instruments at me. My previous job had taught me a lot about patience and understanding how to control the flow of a session, however, it was still something that I had to process afterwards. I talked with the music therapist I was co-leading the session with and my supervisor, and we discussed ways to handle the situation that preserves the trust between me and the client.
Professionally, another consideration is to determine the appropriateness of music therapy for each individual client. We must remember that music therapy (with all the good and benefits it provides) is not always beneficial to every client. Clients that do not respond or connect with music may have difficulty in music therapy. Clients that have adverse reactions may also not receive the beneficial parts of music therapy. As we move forward, it may be necessary to recognize when music therapy is not effective. Similar to the last point, when music ends up causing difficult behaviors or the client has adverse reactions to it, it is important to take note of these and have a discussion with your supervisor, parent(s) and/or treatment team about how to modify services and best meet the client’s needs in order to move forward.
Music therapy is a beautiful thing as it gives back to us in many ways. It allows us to connect and help people that may have had difficulty getting help from other forms of therapy. On the other hand, it can require a lot from us as a clinician. As caring as a music therapist, student, or intern, we can only do so much. It is important to recognize that, move forward, and keep on growing.
Creating healthy boundaries,
Eric Amparo, Music Therapist Intern
