Self-Care For Students: A Pilot Study On Self-Care Education For The Preinternship Music Therapy Student

The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of a short-term, music and expressive arts-based session series on the perceived resiliency and self-care habits of preinternship music therapy practicum students. Participants in this study were recruited from a public university in the Southeast. The process and planning of these sessions were informed by theoretical foundations of both music therapy and expressive arts therapy, and a board-certified music therapist facilitated each session. Effects were measured by administering a pre and posttest survey that utilized the Skovholt Practitioner Professional Resiliency and Self-Care Inventory (Skovholt, 2010). Emerging themes such as self-awareness, access to education, and attendance barriers were exposed through narrative responses from the participants. Many participants showed an increase in self-awareness, as well as practical understanding of self-care strategies including mindfulness and self-compassion. Limitations of the study include a lack of generalizability due to small sample size, inability to require attendance within the group, and time constraints due to the workload of the students. Future considerations include the integration of this series within a class structure, as well as offering a similar group format in a longer term experience in order to increase student reflection and personal growth over time.