Music Therapy in the Short-Term Pediatric Setting: Practical Guidelines for the Limited Time Frame

Abstract

This article is based on clinical work that was done in the pediatric ward of an urban orthopedic hospital. It suggests the need for a crisis intervention-oriented approach to pediatric music therapy and gives rationales and goals for musical intervention. The dilemmas of short-term music therapy, methods, activities, and techniques are outlined. Three case studies of 4-, 5-, and 6-yr-old children are presented that demonstrate ways in which music therapy can be powerful and meaningful, in spite of short time frames. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)