E-Book of Articles - World Federation of Music Therapy

D'ulisse, M. E.. et al.: Music Therapy Conducted On A Child ...
and out of hospital, and that, at home, he often has to be tied to a bed with
sides (like a hospital bed) to stop him falling out.
The members of the music therapy team have discussed this case amongst
themselves; each person was deeply affected by it and, at a distance of a
year, its emotional impact is still felt by all concerned. The treatment
undertaken was of a complex nature and the good level of communication
and interaction achieved by one of the groups (two music therapists with R),
which gave some indication of possible improvement in R's main symptoms,
conflicted with the rigidity of the other group (psychologist with parents)
who were unable to see their way towards adopting a different mental
attitude when faced with a changing situation.
It is important to bear in mind that the parents did not have any other
support, apart from the interviews with the psychologist, in their attempt to
change their approach because everybody else who came into contact with
the family confirmed the original diagnosis – that the parents attitude was
dictated exclusively by their son's illness.
Even the psychologist was aware that such radical changes do not come
about without a massive effort by everyone concerned – first and foremost,
society as a whole and the community in which the family lived. However, R
needed our attention (just as any other child or adult patient would) and we
are grateful to him for what the experience taught us, both professionally
and at a human level.
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