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Annette Whitehead-Pleaux, MAMT, MT-BC 
The Standards of Clinical Practice committee is responsible for establishing and maintaining standards for the music therapy profession. The Standards of Clinical Practice Committee maintains the Standards of Clinical Practice document that is printed each year in the front of the AMTA Source Book. Within this document, each area of music therapy clinical practice is defined and the standards for quality practice are set. The Standards of Clinical Practice is a living document and is reviewed and updated yearly at the AMTA national conference. The Standards of Clinical Practice Committee periodically is charged by the Executive Board of AMTA to perform other tasks. Our most recent was creating a definition of music therapy that is now used on all AMTA documents.
Standards of Clinical Practice Report
Written by Annette Whitehead-Pleaux   
Wednesday, 24 June 2009
The committee was asked to review the “TAP 21 Addiction Counseling Competencies – The Knowledge, skills, and Attitudes of Professional Practice” distributed by SAMSHA and consider if there are ideas to add/amend the Addictions section of the Standards of Clinical Practice.  After a thorough review of these competencies, the committee has created a rough draft of proposed changes to the AMTA Standards of Clinical Practice document that focuses on cultural considerations and supervision.  The changes to the language regarding cultural diversity have been updated to the current language used by many organizations and companies. We have decided to propose adding a section on Supervision. The committee members continue to consider these changes and hone the language.  Below is the current draft of changes. The committee welcomes the input of the members of each region regarding these changes.

A. The rough draft of proposed changes regarding Cultural Diversity:
  • 2.0 Standard II – Assessment. A client will be assessed by a Music Therapist for music therapy services.
  • 2.1 The music therapy assessment will include the general categories of psychological, cognitive, communicative, social, and physiological functioning focused on the client’s needs and strengths.  The assessment will also determine the client’s responses to music, music skills, and musical preferences.
  • 2.2 (proposed new 2.2) The music therapy assessment will explore the client's culture.  This can include orientation, gender identity, and social organization.

(Change the rest of the numbers to fit the new 2.2 in)

  • 2.3 (current 2.2) All music therapy assessment methods will be appropriate for the client’s chronological age, diagnoses, functioning level, and culture(s).  The methods may include, but need not be limited to, observation during music or other situations, interview, verbal and nonverbal interventions, and testing.  Information may also be obtained from different disciplines/sources such as medical and social history.
  • 3.6.1The Music Therapist will include music, instruments, and music elements, from the client’s culture as appropriate.


B. The rough draft of proposed addition of Supervision section:

  • 8.0 Standard VII - Supervision
  • 8.1 It is the responsibility of the Music Therapist to seek and participate in supervision at least once each month.
  • 8.2 Types of supervision can include but are not limited to direct observation, peer review, verbal feedback, group supervision, individual supervision, and music-based supervision.
  • 8.3 Music Therapists can seek supervision from senior music therapists as well as other professionals including but not limited to psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, art therapists, dance/movement therapists, drama therapists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech language pathologists, physicians, and nurses.
  • 8.4 It is the responsibility of the Supervising Music Therapist to maintain knowledge of current developments in research, theory, and techniques in music therapy supervision and supervision in general.
  • 8.5 The Music Therapy Supervisor will be familiar with current federal, state, and local laws as well as the AMTA Code of Ethics as they pertain to supervision and confidentiality within supervision.
  • 8.6 The Music Therapy Supervisor is to adhere to all AMTA Standards of Clinical Practice, and assure the Supervisee has read and agrees to adhere the AMTA Standards of Clinical Practice, and so verifies in writing.  The Music Therapy Supervisor shall hold the Supervisee accountable for adhering to the AMTA Standards of Clinical Practice.
  • 8.7 The Music Therapy Supervisor will complete all documentation pertaining to supervision accurately, completely, and in a timely manner.
  • 8.8 The Music Therapy Supervisor will keep all supervision content confidential.
 
Committee Report
Written by Annette Whitehead-Pleaux   
Wednesday, 06 February 2008

This year at conference, the Standards of Clinical Practice Committee (SCPC) met with the Chair of the Professional Advocacy Committee (PAC) and the Chair of the Special Target Populations Committee (STPC). First, we answered the questions about the Standards of Clinical Practice in regards to the Self-Assessment Tool that the PAC has been developing based on the Standards. Members of the SCPC offered to test drive the Self-Assessment Tool when the PAC is ready for testing the tool. Next, we met with the Special Target Populations Committee Chair to learn how we could assist with the Networking Luncheon. Finally, we made minor grammatical changes to the Standards of Clinical Practice that did not change any substance.
 
The Standards of Clinical Practice is a living document. The Committee reviews it each year, making sure it reflects the current practice of music therapy by the members of AMTA. It is a document for each of us, to guide us as we explore our scope of practice. I know it is not quite as fun to read as the last Harry Potter novel, but sometime before November, if you have a few minutes, read through the Standards and see if it reflects your practice. If you see something that is outdated or something that is omitted, please contact me and I will bring your ideas/concerns to the SCPC at national conference. There we will discuss your ideas/concerns and modify the document as needed.
 
Respectfully Submitted by Annette Whitehead-Pleaux
 
About Annette: Having worked in music therapy for fifteen years, Annette Whitehead-Pleaux currently works with pediatric burn patients at Shriners Burns Hospital-Boston. There she provides clinical services as well as performs clinical research. In 2003, she was awarded the 2003 Arthur Flagler Fultz Research Grant Award for her research on the effects of music therapy on pain and anxiety of pediatric patients undergoing medical procedures. Prior to working with pediatric burn patients, she worked with children, adults, and geriatric individuals diagnosed with mental illness. Additionally, she has worked with children in special education classrooms and women and children at a domestic violence program. She has served the New England Region since 1997 as Assembly Delegate, Alternate Assembly Delegate, NER Representative to the Standards of Clinical Practice Committee, and NER Representative to the Research Committee. She has a passion for knitting and being a new mom.