Multimodal Therapy and Music Therapy: Assessing and Treating the Whole Person

Abstract

Multimodal Therapy was developed by Arnold Lazarus for assessing and treating psychiatric clients in a holistic manner. His scheme recognizes sevendiscrete yet interrelated dimensions of human func­ tioning: behavior, affect, sensation, imagery, cognition, inter­ personal, and physical well-being. This article suggestsa method to maximize the effectivenessof client assessment and treatment. Clini­ cal examples illustrate the integration of music therapy into this approach. Multimodel therapy offers the possibility of achieving a balanced view of the client as a whole person. It freesthe therapist to integrate and choose from a wide variety of treatment modalities. Despite an abundant and diverse assortment of music therapy tech­ niques, a glaring deficiency exists in the conceptual realm. Therapists need an accessibleframework within which they can assessa client's needsand strengths and consciously choose an effective course of treatment. With today's emphasis on holistic medicine, the most beneficial schemewould be one which recognizes and categorizesthe aspectsof human functioning, rather than one which takes stock of types of activities or current trends in the more verbal or analytical therapies. Therapists and educators have the need for a theoretical framework to focus the therapeutic process. Several writers have offered conceptual overviews of music therapy. One of the broader and more useful schemesis set forth in Music Therapy Perspectives (1983). In her articles, Wheeler delineates a continuum of music therapy procedures which range from the activity-oriented to reeducative therapy to re-constructive therapy, the latter two emphasizing insight. Many of the more frequently cited goals are thought of in music therapy asactivity therapy. Thesegoals include increasing the toleration of instruc­ tion; increasing attention-span, and enhancing the client's self-esteem, awareness, and interpersonal skills. Reeducation goals help clients gain insights and cope with their feelings and situations here-and-now. Recon­ 12