Image from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Survivor.borneo.logo.png

As some of you may know, I’ve had the amazing opportunity to serve as Interim Clinical Coordinator at Marylhurst University. I get to teach a few classes, supervise practicum students as well as oversee the practicum placements that the University offers. It’s been an amazing experience and I’ve loved every minute of it!

Each term, Marylhurst offers a master class for the music therapy students. Sometimes we have a presenter (last term we were honored to have Kat Fulton lead a skype drum circle!), and sometimes we focus on some specific skill building exercises. This term, we decided to try something brand new: Music Therapy Survivor!! (cue awesome theme music!!!)

Music Therapy Survivor (the result of a fabulous brainstorming session between myself and the Program Director) is an interactive role playing game where students are faced with challenging clinical situations and must figure out how they would approach each using their clinical training and the tools they have at their disposal. Here’s how we set it up:

1. Students were presented with a scenario – this would include relevant information about the client/clients, some background info on previous sessions, and the overall goals that were being addressed in therapy.

2. Students would volunteer to play either the therapist or clients. The therapist would then be presented with the tools they had at their disposal (guitar, drums, ipod, paper, etc.)

3. The therapist would then have 5 minutes to go into the hallway and briefly plan for their “session”. When they were done they would come back into the room……..and get it with “the twist”. 

4. The Twist was an extra little challenge that we built into each scenario. Sometimes it would be something that would happen to the therapist (they lost their voice, ran over their guitar, had technical issues with the ipod) or the client (change in caregiver, unusually aggressive, sudden loss).

5. Therapists would then have to complete their session within 15 minutes. After which, the entire group would process the whole thing.

6. For their bravery, each therapist was presented with a prize (a small instrument to add to their collection).

Our idea behind this game was to get students really working in the moment. Many new therapists get so attached to their session plans that the thought of deviating from them, even if it’s necessary for the client, can be a little scary. We wanted students to start to feel some of that flexibility that has to come when they are meeting clients right in the moment – but have them do it in a place that was safe and supportive.

Overall, the students had a blast! We got some great feedback after the class and plan on bringing this game back as a teaching tool in the future.

Now I want to hear from YOU!! Have you had any “survivor” -like moments in your work? How did you approach unexpected and challenging situations that came up!

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