Including the Excluded

Abstract

This paper describes the use of music therapy in supporting adolescents from a deprived, inner-city background with social, emotional and behavioural difficulties (SEBD) and draws on the author's work with adolescents in SEBD schools and pupil referral units (PRUs). The complex needs of this client group are outlined in terms of social, cultural, developmental and organic factors. The difficulties they face in accessing traditional National Health Service-based psychotherapy are described and ways of providing a more inclusive therapy service are suggested including the use of music therapy, providing therapy in schools rather than in mental health clinics and thinking about the nature of the therapeutic relationship being offered. The need to ensure that music therapy practice adapts to the cultural needs of such clients is also explored with a focus on the use of music technology and rap. A case study is used to illustrate the approach used by the author.