Levels of Therapy: The Classification of Music Therapy Goals

This study provides empirical support for the suggestion that music therapy procedures can be categorized into three levels: music therapy as activity therapy, insight music therapy with reeducative goals, and insight music therapy with reconstructive goals. Two hypotheses were tested: (a) that goals for each of the three levels would be consistently used in conjunction with other goals from that level, and (b) that client diagnosis could be used to predict the level of therapy. Goals were designated for each level of therapy and respondents were asked to rate the importance of each in their work, as well as to answer other questions about themselves and their clients. Surveys were received from 148 music therapists who were working with adult psychiatric clients. Both hypotheses were supported by this study. The importance of the results for the clinical practice of music therapy and educating music therapy students is discussed, and suggestions for further research are made.