Clinical Intentions in Music Therapy Termination Processes: A Qualitative Inquiry

Abstract ABSTRACT: Given the limited literature on the specific termination practices of music therapists in multiple clinical settings, clinicians were asked to participate in open-ended interviews to address the following research questions: What are the current termination practices of music therapists? What types of termination practices might they describe? and What processes do they move through in their termination practices? Thematic analysis of the interview data was used to identify several themes, one of which is described in the present paper: clinical intentions. Four clinical intentions are described in the results: preparing the person for termination, considering the person’s context, framing the therapeutic structure, and implementing the termination process. Comparison of the results to the termination-related music therapy literature showed that general guidelines for termination are not universally applicable. A model for self/peer-supervision and decision-making for termination was presented for three purposes: (a) to provide an approach for students and clinicians to consider the specific termination-related circumstances in which they find themselves, (b) to provide an approach for them to consider how they might most effectively attend to the needs of the persons they serve, and (c) to provide an approach for them to consider their own needs for self-care.