1) Assessment: The music therapist observes the client(s) in a non-musical setting and/or conducts an initial music therapy session in which they observe and assess the clients’ strengths, challenges, needs, and musical and non-musical preferences.
2) Treatment Planning: When it is appropriate, the music therapist will collaborate with their client(s) to formulate appropriate goals and objectives based on the client(s) strengths, challenges, needs, and musical and non-musical preferences. If it is not possible or inappropriate to gain verbal/non-verbal input directly from the client, the music therapist will work with family members and/or make treatment planning choices based on their clinical expertise. Next, the music therapist will design a treatment plan that reinforces the client(s) goals and objectives by using a variety of different therapeutic music experiences and interventions.
3) Implementation: The music therapist implements her music therapy treatment plan and during this process she aims to build a therapeutic relationship with her client(s) and provide music therapy experiences that address the client(s) goals and objectives.
4) Ongoing Documentation and Evaluation: Throughout the music therapy process, the music therapist documents clients’ progress in meeting their goals and objectives while evaluating what music experiences and interventions are aiding in the client achieving their goals and which are not.
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