Exploring The Role of Mindfulness in Music Therapy: A Qualitative Interview Study

Mindfulness as a concept and a practice has become ubiquitous amongst health professionals. However, only a small number of studies have investigated the use of mindfulness approaches within music therapy. The purpose of this study was to understand how mindfulness-meditation may influence a music therapist’s clinical practice. Three highly experienced music therapists, who each maintain a daily mindfulness-meditation practice, were interviewed. The semi-structured interviews were recorded, transcribed and analyzed according to Neuman’s (2006) qualitative data analysis techniques. Emergent themes were set within five overarching categories including: defining mindfulness, self-care, therapeutic presence, the use of mindfulness-oriented approaches within sessions, and recommendations to other music therapists. The results suggested that mindfulness may factor into clinical practice in both implicit and explicit ways, and that a mindful awareness may enhance therapeutic efficacy within a music therapy context. Implications for clinical practice and educational settings are discussed. Limitations of the study are also highlighted along with recommendations for future research