Songwriting with the chemically dependent

Journal/Book: Music Therapy Perspectives. 1987; 4: 13-18.

Abstract: The purpose of this article is to discuss songwriting as a therapeutic procedure with the chemically dependent population. The article includes (a) characteristics of the chemically dependent, (b) prominent treatment approaches used with the chemically dependent, (c) therapeutic objectives of songwriting with the chemically dependent, (d) techniques for facilitating songwriting, (e) lyric analysis of original songs, and (f) the role of the music therapist in the song-writing process. The article is based on the author's experience with chemically dependent persons in a 24-day in-patient treatment facility. The average age of those in treatment is 29 years, with a mean school education of 11.7 years. They are 80% male, 37% unemployed, and 91% Caucasian. 87.5% claim that their primary drug use is alcohol. The remaining 12.5% claim drug use (other than alcohol as their primary addiction. ABSTRACT 2: Reviews the characteristics of chemically dependent patients (CDPs) and the treatment approaches used with them. The author proposes songwiting as a therapeutic procedure for CDPs based on personal experience with CDPs in a 24-day inpatient treatment facility. Therapeutic objectives of songwriting with CDPs, techniques for facilitating songwriting, lyric analysis of original songs, and the role of the music therapist in the songwriting process are discussed. ABSTRACT 3: Outlines the development of a music therapy research project with adult recidivist offenders. Emphasis is given to the attempt to devise strategies appropriate to the needs of this particular client group, which has meant using methods that involve the clients themselves in the planning of research and in monitoring their own processes. The various stages in the preparation of a music therapy grid, based on G. A. Kelly's (1955) personal construct theory, are outlined. The grid was designed to investigate how group members perceive music therapy and whether their perceptions change over time.

Note: Using Smart Source Parsing songwriting as therapeutic approach; chemically dependent patients roup music therapy research project; adult recidivist offenders

Keyword(s): Music therapy; drug rehabilitation; psychotherapeutic techniques; drug dependency; adulthood

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