ResearchWorks: “Music Therapy Works!” but do people like it?

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Music Therapy research has shown great promise for children suffering with the condition known as Selective Mutism (SM). SM is a relatively rare but highly impairing anxiety condition seen in younger children when they first begin school or nursery. Children with SM can often talk confidently at home or in places where they feel relaxed but not at school where they can also present as physically still - similar to a ‘freeze’ response. The vocal folds in the throat become tight and frozen, with younger children experiencing this as the issue rather than the anxiety.

In this discussion Dr Kate Jones will describe her ongoing research journey on the use of Music Therapy for young children with SM and outline findings from a recent acceptability and feasibility study. In this study a manualised treatment approach was developed and used by four Music Therapists in an inner-London borough. Interviews with staff, parents and therapists highlight key strengths but also challenges for Music Therapy practice in this field including implications for increased cultural awareness and diversity of therapists.

Speaker:

DR. KATE JONES is the research coordinator for Music Therapy at Guildhall School of Music & Drama and as such is an enthusiastic ambassador for all research that supports the use of Music or Music Therapy for health and wellbeing. She is also Director of the charity Music Therapy Lambeth. Kate’s future focus will be to extend and develop Music Therapy and Selective Mutism research up through the age ranges. Kate is also involved in projects addressing neuroscientific applications of Music and Music Therapy. Dr Kate Jones was awarded a PhD from Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, in 2019, on the use of Music Therapy for young children with Selective Mutism. Kate has presented papers at international conferences across Europe and the US, produced a video for BBC news (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCvcWTNIJxc) published widely read open access articles (2012, 2022) and a chapter in the book ‘Tackling Selective Mutism’ (2014).