Forensic Music Therapy: A Treatment for Men and Women in Secure Hospital Settings

It has clear statement of purpose, setting out to present and examine the contexts and challenges relevant to a range of forensic practices, including high, medium and low secure hospitals... It is both informative and thought-provoking... It is a fantastic resource for all music therapists, as well as students and clinicians from related disciplines... This is also valuable to all therapist... This book is about the nature of music therapy as much as it is about forensic practice. -- Approaches: Music Therapy & Special Music Education Music therapy has at times been neglected and ignored in our work with forensic patients in secure hospital settings. This, fortunately, is no longer so, thanks to the wisdom, creativity, courage and determination of our colleagues which is represented so clearly and movingly in the diverse work described in this volume. I strongly recommend immersion in these rich and vivid clinical vignettes which will help add another important dimension, not only to the clinical work but also in the ability to think in creative ways when feeling stuck in this important and difficult work. Whether or not you are musically oriented, reading this book carefully will both enlighten and enchant you. -- From the foreword by Dr. Estela V. Welldon, Honorary Consultant Psychiatrist, Tavistock and Portman Foundation NHS Trust, Founder and Honorary President for Life of the International Association for Forensic Psychotherapy Forensic Music Therapy is the first book of its kind, illuminating the clinical effectiveness of music therapy with this immensely challenging population. In addition to making a major contribution to music therapy and research, it will also be a valuable resource to related disciplines working in this area. -- Dr. Diane Austin, ACMT, LCAT, Director, The Music Psychotherapy Center and Associate Professor, Graduate Music Therapy, New York University A beautifully orchestrated book which is a stimulating read for anyone working in forensic mental health.The book exemplifies a forensic approach in its consideration of the institutional setting, the importance of music therapy's clinical contribution and breaks new ground in its research section. This wide ranging book brings music therapy to life from the perspective of patients, therapists, supervisors, managers and multidisciplinary team members. Its vibrant and informative clinical material really allows the reader to understand the unique contribution music therapy makes to the treatment challenges with which forensic patients present us. -- Dr. Gill McGauley, Consultant Psychiatrist and Reader in Forensic Psychotherapy, Broadmoor Hospital and St George's University of London This book is a real achievement - the descriptions of the work are scarily powerful and the theoretical arguments are clear - it triumphs over many obstacles - I hope it gets the recognition it deserves. -- Anthony Ryle, Founder of Cognitive Analytic Therapy The book presents rich material about the variety of aspects that a music therapist meets in secure hospital settings with patients with mental illness, presenting the very complexity of this work. I strongly recommend this book to music therapists working in the field because I believe reading the book will support music therapists in their work and especially support how to communicate the special contributions of music therapy in secured psychiatric hospital settings. -- Nordic Journal of Music therapy

Forensic Music Therapy demonstrates diverse and innovative approaches, which include live, improvised and pre-composed music, from music therapy teams working in secure treatment settings. The book covers clinical development, research, supervision and discussion of institutional and multi-disciplinary team dynamics. It will inform professionals about different ways to manage challenging situations in order to deliver music therapy with adults and adolescents who have committed offences, men and women with personality disorders and mental health problems, as well as men who have killed. The book also describes the development of Cognitive Analytic Music Therapy: the first manualised form of music therapy to be used in the rehabilitation of offenders. Chapters include case studies and service developments informed by theories from an established range of psychological therapies including psychoanalysis, cognitive analytic therapy, musicology and forensic psychotherapy. The significant variations and considerations when working in low, medium and high secure treatment settings are also clarified. This book will give music therapists, forensic and clinical psychotherapists and psychologists, cognitive analytic therapists, psychiatrists, and others working in the field a wider understanding of choices, as well as demonstrating the effectiveness of tailored music therapy programmes for this complex client group.