Elsevier

The Arts in Psychotherapy

Volume 50, September 2016, Pages 22-33
The Arts in Psychotherapy

Research article
Toward a queer music therapy: The implications of queer theory for radically inclusive music therapy

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aip.2016.03.004Get rights and content

Highlights

  • We survey the interdisciplinary field of queer theory and consider its implications for music therapy with LGBTQ clients, especially LGBTQ youth.

  • Queer theory offers important insights for how to conduct affirmative, anti-oppresive practice with sexual minorities and gender nonconforming individuals.

  • We introduce “queer music therapy” as a theoretical framework and offer several practical inventions for music therapy with LGBTQ youth.

  • We consider the implications of queer therapy for a radically inclusive music therapy that empowers LGBTQ youth.

Abstract

Interest in music therapy with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) individuals has increased in the last decade, and the distinctive needs of the community have been acknowledged through the publication of LGBTQ best practices in music therapy (Whitehead-Pleaux et al., 2012). Developing competencies around LGBTQ issues in music therapy is more complex than simply including, or incorporating, diverse sexual orientation, and gender identity issues, into an existing disciplinary framework, that has an historical hostility towards non-normative sexualities and genders. The challenges of conducting music therapy with LGBTQ populations within community settings has been documented in few sources, and this lack of attention in the existing music therapy literature has inspired an interdisciplinary framework by which to consider these challenges. First, we introduce and survey key developments in queer theory. Second, we explain how queer theory may complement and challenge recent developments in inclusive, and social justice-based, music therapy approaches. Then, we outline several potential therapeutic approaches with LGBTQ youth that reflect queer theory. Finally we discuss the broader implications of queer theory for music therapy, with the intent to move the field toward a radically inclusive approach to therapy with LGBTQ clients.

Section snippets

LGBTQ lives in context

Psychological problems can arise from a function of interactions within relationships and systems, including interpersonal relationships, family, community, society, and culture (Crowe, 2004). This model of viewing psychological issues is the most applicable to LGBTQ issues, as their mental health and disorder in relationships typically has more to do with society and culture than biology or epigenetics. Heterosexism refers to the structural disadvantages faced by sexual minorities, including

Theoretical orientation

Music is highly influential during adolescence and is also used as a medium to construct identity (Tarrant, North, & Hargreaves, 2002). Therefore, an anti-oppressive music therapy informed by queer theory may be efficacious for working with LGBTQ youth, a population that faces marginalization and discrimination in personal interactions and society at large. This oppression may lead to issues with social and personal identity development, as well as other psychological problems, including

Music therapy interventions

To provide queer theory-informed music therapy, a variety of music therapy interventions can be facilitated. These interventions using the above theoretical orientation can promote self-esteem, coping skills, and empowerment for LGBTQ youth experiencing issues related to their identity, including: musical autobiographies, songwriting, lyric analysis, music and creative arts, and group anthem-writing. Each of these interventions is discussed below.

Conclusion: toward a radically inclusive music therapy

This theoretically informed praxis outlined above describes “queer music therapy” practice with LGBTQ adolescent clients. Many LGBTQ adolescents battle pervasive stigma in a multitude of settings, including mental health institutions, which indicates a need for anti-oppressive music therapy techniques grounded in queer theoretical perspectives. Evidence of the strong impact of music on identity development during adolescence provides a rationale for music therapy with this population, and the

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    This research was based on a B.M. Honors Thesis at Barrett, the Honors College at Arizona State University completed under the direction of Barbara J. Crowe.

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