Interprofessional research in Guided Imagery and Music: Working collaboratively

Abstract

Interprofessional collaborative research has been gaining momentum as a leading research practice. The challenges posed by the complex nature of the world and healthcare require new and different solutions. These require the diverse skill and collective work of multiple disciplines. As a result, funding agencies are giving priority to interprofessional collaborative research rather than single discipline research. This article focuses on one method of music therapy practice: The Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music (GIM), where practitioners typically work alone. It reviews interprofessional collaboration in current GIM research literature and explores how GIM can benefit from this type of research practice. The authors identify and discuss the competencies and skills needed to successfully engage in interprofessional collaborative research and provide an analysis of two case illustrations of interprofessional research practice in GIM.