Date of Award
5-2025
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Education
Department
Education
First Advisor
Michelle Whitacre
Second Advisor
Alison Cole
Third Advisor
Amanda Wick
Abstract
All music therapy undergraduate and equivalency students in the United States must complete 1,200 hours of fieldwork experience to obtain degree conferment from an accredited and approved higher education program (American Music Therapy Association, 2023b, p. 1). While engaging in fieldwork had several benefits for music therapy students, such as the opportunity to build practical experience and refine skills, the experience also involved several challenges (Forinash, 2019; Tien & Trang, 2020). A challenge not yet thoroughly examined by faculty and staff within higher education music therapy programs was student mental health. To date, researchers had not examined the prevalence of mental health challenges experienced by music therapy students and how the challenges influenced student quality of life during fieldwork experiences. The scholar practitioner implemented the design thinking process with stakeholders and end users to explore how resilience training (focused on defining and describing resilience, energy management, goal setting, and dealing with stress) can minimize music therapy student symptoms associated with anxiety, depression, and burnout syndrome during fieldwork experiences. Results from the research study indicated faculty and staff can cultivate music therapy student resilience through active learning experiences to improve emotional stability and mental clarity during fieldwork experiences. In addition, faculty and staff can assist music therapy students with proactively setting realistic and relevant goals focused on using energy management techniques during fieldwork experiences to decrease stress levels and symptoms associated with anxiety, depression, and burnout. Faculty and staff can also lead music therapy students in reflective practices focused on cultivating gratitude during fieldwork experiences to enhance positive emotions, boost confidence levels, foster a sense of accomplishment, and improve student quality of life.
Recommended Citation
Weaver, Crystal, "Resiliency Training for Music Therapy Students During Fieldwork Experiences" (2025). Dissertations. 788.
https://digitalcommons.lindenwood.edu/dissertations/788
