Music Therapy and Spiritual Care in Medical Settings

Music therapists and hospital chaplains often work alongside each other in medical settings, supporting both the musical and spiritual health of patients and families. Both professions incorporate aspects of the other’s discipline—music can be an expression of spirituality, just as one’s spiritual experiences are often deepened through music. Music is often deeply engrained in spiritual practice. However, neither music therapists nor hospital chaplains are explicitly trained to engage in collaborative work with the other.

Music Therapy and Spiritual Care in Medical Settings is the much-needed product of a collaborative endeavor to unite music therapists and spiritual care clinicians in a critical conversation about music, spirituality, and health. In the often sterile spaces of medical settings, music therapists and hospital chaplains shine a light on the critical roles that spirituality, aesthetics, music, and the therapeutic relationship play in patient and family health and wellbeing. This interactive guidebook was written for a wide audience and includes writings from many well-versed voices in these areas. Music therapists and healthcare chaplains, as well as students and those interested in broadening their perspectives in both areas, will find something of interest in this comprehensive electronic book.

Editors Tague, Townsend, and Auld blend their unique perspectives as a music therapy educator, music therapist and healthcare manager, and healthcare chaplain, respectively, to put forth a collection of experiences, ideas, and instructional guides for readers to consider. Uniting their collective knowledge, the editorial team has engaged an experienced pool of eight additional authors to develop this comprehensive guide dedicated to uniting these two separate yet related disciplines in the hospital space.

Clinicians and students seeking a practical guide will find ample opportunities to broaden their understanding and practice with the resources provided. Each of the seven chapters tackles critical aspects of practice while making the information clear and easy to digest for readers of varying levels of experience. In addition to providing written information, readers will immerse themselves more fully by hearing directly from music therapists, healthcare chaplains, professors, administrators, and care recipients through videos embedded directly into the sections. These first-hand, real-life accounts bring concepts to life for readers in a tangible and engaging manner. Information is also presented through visual representations, such as infographics, charts, or diagrams to enhance reader comprehension and cater to multiple learning styles.

The first five chapters explore the roles of both music therapy and hospital chaplaincy in addressing the spiritual needs of patients and their families. In addition to discussing the practices of both professions in medical spaces, the authors also seek to support readers in navigating their own spiritual identity as well as addressing when that identity clashes with the patient’s beliefs. Readers will be prompted to consider treatment planning for patients from both the music therapy and chaplain perspectives. Chapters 4 and 5 focus on program and intervention development, with a focus on implementing a data-driven model of care.

After examining the intersections of music and spirituality for patient care, the authors turn their attention toward caring for professional caregivers—the hospital staff. In Chapter 6, readers will be asked to consider the roles that both music therapy and chaplaincy can play in addressing the spiritual health needs of hospital staff, which is an often-overlooked area for staff support. Working within medical environments can challenge the spiritual beliefs and values held by staff members as they bear witness to many difficult situations. This chapter shares an example of an arts-based program model for staff support implemented by the authors, as well as tangible resources for program development.

Finally, readers are guided through considerations for music therapy and spiritual practices in end-of-life care. Chapter 7 is intended to serve as an introductory guide for both music therapists and healthcare chaplains interested in developing knowledge in this area of practice, as well as for healthcare managers to gain an enhanced understanding of the potential roles these two disciplines may play in patient and family care.

This eBook may be of particular interest to professors, clinical supervisors, and those in a teaching or professional development role. The material presented would be a complement to any course in this topic area. Of note, chapters conclude with “reader engagement” assignments, which provide suggested experiential opportunities that are well-suited for student or professional development assignments. Many chapters also include downloadable PDFs, which provide practical reference charts or ready-to-go materials for program planning. These helpful tools are ready-made to provide experiential opportunities for deeper comprehension and self-exploration.

A few notes for readers to consider: this text provides comprehensive information for readers who are largely new to working at the intersections of music therapy and spirituality in medical settings. Readers just coming into this practice, either as a student or professional transitioning to a new practice, will find this to be a valuable resource. This text is also an important source of information for providing advocacy and education for healthcare leadership or others in medical settings who may be interested in learning more about both professions. Music therapists and healthcare chaplains who are more experienced working collaboratively may wish to seek out additional sources to advance their already established practices. At the same time, this text may solidify many experiences that experienced clinicians have had. Hearing from similarly experienced professionals may lend confidence and language to the growing body of work in these intersecting practices.

This text is formatted as an eBook available through De La Vista Publishers. This author found it to be easily accessible by an ePub reader, such as Apple Books or other similar programs. The ePub format allows for the addition of audio and video links to be embedded within the text, as well as downloadable PDF tools to complement the presented material. Videos embedded into the text use the YouTube platform. This author found no compatibility issues using a MacBook.

In summary, readers will find Music Therapy and Spiritual Care in Medical Settings to be an easy-to-navigate and comprehensive guide to learning more about the important intersections between music therapy and hospital chaplaincy. The collective skill shared by the authors provides a wealth of knowledge and lived experience which will inevitably deepen the knowledge and skill of both music therapists and chaplains alike and will enhance understanding for those in allied fields eager to learn more about the potential of this important work. This ePub is a significant contribution to the music therapy literature base and helps to foster collaboration between music therapists and hospital chaplains, benefitting patients, families, and clinicians.

Conflict of Interest

The author of this book review was invited to review this ePub by the editors and received a complimentary copy of the work.