An Examination of Music Therapy with Adolescent Populations

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the current use of music therapy with adolescent clients. Ninety–seven board certified music therapists working with adolescents between the ages of 11 and 19 completed the on–line survey. Survey results found that most of the participants worked with adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders, developmental disabilities, and emotional/behavioral disorders. Results indicated that music therapists are targeting a number of goals with the three most common being social, communication, and behavioral skills. The results highlighted commonly reported objectives, functional outcomes, data collection methods, the types of music used, and commonly used music interventions for these and other goals. The results of this survey may be helpful for music therapy students and young professionals who want to learn more about how music therapists are meeting the needs of their clients.