The Changing Role of the Music Therapist in an Educational Setting for Young People Experiencing Mental Health Challenges

At a school in Sydney's north, young people experiencing mental health challenges are changing the way music therapy is conducted within an educational setting. The reach of music therapy has extended to their everyday life and, as a result, there has been a change in my role as music therapist, and in the way music therapy is conducted and perceived by the participants. There has been a re-evaluation of methodology, philosophy, and outcomes, as the participants have progressed in their own wellness. The evolution of my role as a therapist in this setting has achieved outcomes that have gone beyond what I have previously experienced when working in other schools. This paper will detail the gradual change in the therapist's role by discussing students' responses to music therapy, and the therapist's responses to the students' outcomes. It will also discuss how these changes have assisted participants in self-determining their journey with music, their wellbeing and their educational outcomes. Key words: role of a music therapist, young people, mental health, schools for specific purposes