Music Therapists' Perceptions of the Impact of Group Factors on the Therapeutic Songwriting Process

Abstract

BackgroundTherapeutic songwriting is one music therapy approach that is practiced across the globe (Baker, Wigram, Stott, & McFerran, 2008). It aims to enhance self-esteem and develop self-confidence, and provide possibilities for choice and decision-making. The approach aims to develop a sense of self, to enable participants to externalise thoughts and feelings, to tell their stories, and to gain insight or clarify thoughts and feelings (Baker et al., 2008). Group songwriting is frequently employed with many clinical populations, particularly in psychiatry, neurorehabilitation, developmental disability, and autism spectrum disordered populations. A recent survey concluded that 42% of clinicians using songwriting employed it with small groups (, 10 participants) and 37% with large groups (Baker, Wigram, Stott, & McFerran, 2009). This study sought to identify the factors that support or constrain the songwriting process when working with groups with a particular emphasis on the group process as perceived by music therapy researchers and clinicians.Literature ReviewThere is a growing body of evidence that group therapeutic songwriting is effective in enhancing various facets of well- being in diverse clinical populations, especially substance use disorder. For studies by Baker, Gleadhill, and Dingle (2007) and Dingle, Gleadhill, and Baker (2008), the songwriting groups in rehabilitation were all open, that is, changing membership from session to session. Therefore, the therapy aimed to engage group cohesion and group processes within single sessions rather than across several sessions. Patient evaluations in the Dingle et al. (2008) study suggested that most participants experienced feeling part of a group, which countered their experience of isolation. Later, Baker, Dingle, and Gleadhill (2011) reported that diverse musical preferenc- es led to group chaos when trying to create the music to accompany the lyrics. In an effort to salvage the process, the music therapist challenged the group on their behavior, and drew on democratic voting to ease this conflict. The song they created resembled a mash-up of song fragments from pre- existing songs combined with original text created by the participants.In her work with adolescents who had misused drugs, McFerran (2011) drew on a range of group music therapy interventions, including songwriting, to stimulate group processes over a ten-session (once per week) program. She noticed that by Week 4, issues of leadership, verbal confrontations, and tensions emerged, a signal of growing authenticity by the group members. In time, this led to an agreeing to disagree'' (p. 257) and an opening up by group members. Perhaps the conflict stimulated opportunities for growth and was viewed as a process that supported movement forward rather than a feature that hindered the songwriting process.Silverman (2011) examined the effect of a songwriting program within a psychoeducational framework on coping skills and working alliance of psychiatric patients, but provided no details about the dynamics of the sessions supporting or constraining the process. Similarly, Grocke, Block, and Castle (2009) studied the impact of group songwriting for adults living with severe and enduring mental illness on quality of life. Among other benefits, group members reported that they experienced working as a team as an enjoyable aspect of the process. Again, there were no details about the group processes encountered during the program and what positive or negative effects these may have had on the process.Dalton and Krout (2005), and Krout (2011) engaged groups in songwriting experiences to facilitate the bereavement process of adolescents. Krout (2011) does not reflect substantially on the group processes. However, he did report that the group context offered individuals opportunities to share their stories with others. In doing so, common thoughts and feelings were brought to the fore and subsequently represented in the group song. …