Three year study of a music therapy program in a residential treatment center

Journal/Book: Journal of Music Therapy. 1975; 12: 67-83.

Abstract: Describes and analyzes the 7-yr-old music therapy program at Bellefaire, Ohio, a comprehensive residential treatment center for behaviorally disturbed youngsters. The program's success is evidenced by student response, participation, performance, and behavioral change, especially among the adolescents. A grant in the program's 4th yr financed a study of the elements of this success. Study methods and findings are described in detail, including the structure of the program, its relation to the other work of the treatment center, student reactions, and the mode of response of the music therapist to student behaviors. ABSTRACT 2: Bellefaire, a comprehensive residential treatment center for behaviorally deviant youngsters, has employed music therapy in its therapeutic program for 7 years. Evaluations made by the administration, psychological and casework services judged the program "successful" based on student response, participation, performance, and behavioral change, particularly with the adolescents. A grant was secured in the 4th year of the program to identify and study certain elements which were thought to have influenced the success of the program. An analysis of program structure and criteria for movement through its different levels suggested a format which could be duplicated in other settings. A high percentage of productive, on-task behavior was observed in both the pre-teen and adolescent groups. Data collected on therapist's responses indicated a high degree of consistency in the implementation of realistic contingencies appropriate for each age group. Nonverbal (eye contact, physical proximity, etc) rather than berbal responses were most frequently used to follow student behavior appropriate in the activity.

Note: music therapy program; comprehensive residential treatment center for behaviorally disturbed children & adolescents

Keyword(s): Music therapy; residential care institutions; behavior disorders; children ; adolescents. study, music-therapy-program, residential-care, treatment-centers, behaviorally-disturbed, adolescent, children, behavioral-approach, levels-system.

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