Thought About Leaving Music Therapy? Me too.

Have you ever thought about leaving the field of music therapy? Well, I have!

I’m getting really honest here, not because I want attention, sympathy, or criticism, but because I think someone needs to voice the unsaid thoughts of music therapists. Have you ever thought of leaving the field of music therapy?

I have been so uncomfortable with the disorganization of a music therapy department that I have thought about quitting and giving up on all things music therapy. I have been overworked and underpaid in far too many music therapy jobs/positions/contracts. I have had to advocate for music therapy, the work I do everyday and see amazing results from with no support. I have asked for more pay, that equal of my therapist counterparts, and have been laughed at. I have had some truly awful interactions with other music therapists, including supervisors. These are only a few of the examples I’ve lived through of reasons to leave a job. Not respected, not valued, not compensated, not supported. Not okay.

What’s more are the expectations required of us and the unrealistic standards we are called to. I’m slowly but surely shedding the guilt of not being the all-in-all music therapist I thought I was supposed to be. Rather, I’m piecing together what it means for me to be a music therapist. Yes, we have standards and a certification that outlines how we must work, but I can’t be everything my certification asks of me. And I don’t think it’s possible. Of course, I continue working on things I think would help serve my clients, but I am learning not to feel guilty about those areas I am not strong in.

I think what is most important is the clients we serve. Duh, right?! What I mean by this is that we need to know what is best for our clients and act accordingly. If someone would best be served by improvisation on piano, I’m going to refer them to a music therapist I know who does that really well. Similarly, if someone has a physical rehabilitative goal, I will for sure refer them to a music therapist who is trained in neurological music therapy. I need to know where my strengths are so I can best serve my clients. If I am not referring clients out to music therapists who can service them better than me, I am being selfish and potentially withholding care from these clients.

There are areas where risk is involved and places where I can learn a technique or appropriate intervention or musical instrument for use in sessions, but I can’t be all things for all people. It’s just not human. And I’m tired of music therapists being expected to be super human, and expecting that of themselves as well.

I’m learning the ways that I work best. I am picking up on what feels right in my music therapy work, and am focusing on those things. I’m guessing that if we hone-in on what we really enjoy doing, and those things that we are really good at, we can do better, more fulfilling work. I’m on a path to find what that is for me.

Who’s with me!