Proceedings, Oxford, UK (2002) - World Federation of Music Therapy

Systemic thinking does not view a problem system as a collection of
people but of a network of meanings. Family therapists believe that:
“symptoms, problems and difficulties arise in the context of
relationships, and are understood in terms of interactive and systemic
processes. The main focus of intervention emerges from these patterns
of interaction and the meanings given to them” (Association of Family
Therapists Code of Ethics and Practice). It is therefore the therapist’s job
to search for multiple and differing perspectives in order to highlight
difference and open up the possibility for change. The meaning of the
system is not the individual people but the interactions between them. It
is the similar to the notion that an isolated note gains meaning through its
relationship with other notes. There are many schools of family therapy
thinking. Today I will dip into the theory, ideas and different schools of
thought that seem pertinent to me as a music therapist, at the current time.
I apologise for the lack of historical and theoretical context that this
brevity of this paper does not allow time for.
The core of this paper is a clinical example of work with a mother and
child as this is probably the most common family group convened by
music therapists, so will be pertinent. I will then go on to consider
techniques that may be helpful when working with larger families and
also explore ways of thinking about individuals.
Kitty has a very rare syndrome 102 and has exhibited behavioural
difficulties since she was a toddler. Her behaviour has been reported to
become worse with each passing year. Her behaviour presents as a need/
102. Chromazone 2 Long Arm Deletion Syndrome
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