Music Therapy in the Treatment of Families with Young Children

Abstract

In Section 1 the author suggests that child and family therapists rarely or reluctantly include young children in cross-generational sessions. The work of several child and family therapists who have bridged the gap between the enactive modes of child learning and the verbal modes of the adults in family sessions is presented. In Section 2 the author reviews the writings of several arts therapists who use action-oriented, symbolic experiences or tasks that work well with children in family therapy. In Section 3 the author presents music therapy practices with families. The author suggests that improvisational music in the family session is similar to play and that songs in the sessions function similarly to a co-therapist. Finally, a case study illustrates the value of music in helping generations communicate, and in objectifying and working through family alliances and roles.