This book brings together music therapists who have worked in the challenging and rewarding world of children's palliative care. Examining techniques from working just with the breath, to technological advances in music therapy such as assistive recording and electronic downloading, it highlights the benefits music therapy can bring when working alongside children and young people.
Drawing on the knowledge of expert music therapists, the book provides accessible guidance that practitioners can apply to their own work, including on professional development as part of a multi-disciplinary team, service evaluation, and managing publicity in the hospice setting. It addresses work with different client groups, such as teenagers, and discusses therapy with family members, including siblings.
Music therapists and healthcare practitioners will be provided with the tools to reflect on their own professional challenges and deepen their understanding of the important role of music therapy in this sector
Introduction. 1. I'm here, I'm with you, I see you, I'm listening. Working with the breath with life limited and life threatened children. 2. Balancing the Public and Private: Music Therapy in a Children's Hospice. 3. Working in the Multi-Disciplinary Team. 4. Evaluating music therapy services in children's hospices. 5. Are we singing from the same song sheet?: The scope and provision of music therapy in children's hospices. 6. Fostering the relationship between parent and child using music therapy. 7. From small beginnings: Music therapy in the community setting for children and young people with cancer. 8. Performing, sharing and celebrating life: An exploration of the value of performance in a joint music therapy and community music project in a children's hospice. 9. Continuing to Sing: Music therapy, Identity and Empowerment in Young Adult's Palliative Care. 10. The screams crashed into silence: A therapeutic songwriting project for young adults with life-limiting illnesses.
'Music Therapy in Children's Palliative Care illustrates very strongly how musictherapists use the strength of music to support children and families who areexperiencing challenging and life changing circumstances.This book demonstrates how well music therapists offer the opportunity to createlasting memories when a child is dying. Both the child and the family are having tocome to terms with loss. This book portrays the complexity of anticipatory grief anddiscusses offering a safe place to fully face and feel the pain and helplessness ofbereavement.Music therapy allows children and families to express their feelings without words.I strongly believe the benefits from music therapy are unlimited creating a bondbetween child and family. This is only achieved by the amazing flexibility demonstratedby the music therapists in this book. I learnt a great deal when reading this book.' -Beverley Barclay MBE, C linical Lead for ellenor's C hildren Hospice at Home service'As Patron of Jessie's Fund, I am so pleased to see this second book on music therapyand children's palliative care following in the footsteps of 'Jessie's Fund In Action'. It'sheart-warming to know that this fantastic work carries on in the UK and that itcontinues to develop to meet the growing needs of a very complex client group. Thededicated music therapist contributors clearly love working in hospice and palliativecare, and are a real inspiration - just like the children they work with.' - Maxine Peake
