23.7. 1993 Vitoria-Gasteiz / Spain - World Federation of Music Therapy

my experien ce of working with music as a therapeutical
device in a contribution to this congres.
It became clear to me that I had to make an evaluation
of my own professional identity, not a bad idea after
thirteen years, and translate this into a presentation.
But before I come to this I think it necessary to introduce
a view of the clinic, the patients and the therapeutic
methods used. In extention of that, I will mention the
importance of the music lessons within the treatment
programme. In the second part I would like to enter
matters of practice.
In Holland we have 7 institutions for the treatment of the
mentally disturbed criminal offender.
Most of these offenders are admitted to treatment
institutions under a special penal measure, the so called
TBS.
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A Court of Law may impose TBS when it assumes
"diminished responsibi lity", based on a psychiatric
report.
One of these institutions is the dr. Henri vd
hoevenkliniek, where 75 in-patients are being treated.
The criminal records of the patients admitted include
robbery, burglary, violence, sexual offences, infanticide,
manslaughter and murder.
To form an idea of the patient population some general
features may be mentioned.
About 10 % of the patients are women,and 70% of the
patients are between 20 and 29 years of age.
In recent years the number of young patients has
markedly increased. Most patients have lower
educational levels only.
Most of our patients have spent many years in