Family Therapists’ Perspectives on Implementing Musical Interventions in Family Therapy: A Mixed-Methods Study

Abstract

ABSTRACT Family musical interventions offer significant therapeutic outcomes when applied by music therapists. Although mainly focused on individuals with special needs, interventions contribute to family well-being by promoting family communication, shared emotions, relationships, roles, dynamics, mutual trust, and parental functioning. Despite the potential, family-based musical interventions are rarely used by family therapists or studied in family therapy programs. Thirty-five family therapists participated in an explanatory mixed-methods research aimed at identifying therapists’ perceptions toward musical interventions in clinical work, illuminating numerous sources influencing therapists’ inclination to refrain from using musical interventions. This article discusses implications for promoting use of musical interventions.