Music Therapy with Adults with Learning Disabilities

Tessa Watson

May 2007 · Routledge

About this ebook

Music Therapy with Adults with Learning Disabilities explores how music therapists work in partnership with people with learning disabilities to encourage independence and empowerment and to address a wide variety of everyday issues and difficulties.

Comprehensive and wide-ranging, this book describes in detail the role and work of the music therapist with adults with learning disabilities. Many clinical examples are used, including casework with people with autism, asperger’s syndrome, profound and multiple learning disabilities and a dual diagnosis of learning disability and mental health problems. The book also explores issues of team work and collaborative working, considering how music therapists and their colleagues can best work together. The chapters are grouped into four sections; an introduction to current music therapy work and policy in the area, clinical work with individuals, clinical work with groups, and collaborative and team work. Guidelines for good practice are also provided.

This is a thought-provoking and topical text for all those involved in work with adults with learning disabilities; it is essential reading for music therapists and fellow professionals, carers, policy makers and students.

About the author

Tessa Watson is a music therapist and music therapy trainer. She is convenor of the music therapy training course at Roehampton University. Tessa’s current clinical work is with adults with learning disabilities for Ealing Primary Care Trust where she is Principal Arts Therapist.