A model for music therapy with students with emotional and behavioral disorders

Music therapy has been used in a variety of ways to benefit students with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD), even though little information on the specifics involved in applying music therapy to this population has been written. With proper planning of musical activities and sessions, students can benefit from a music therapy program structured for the success of each individual. The purpose of this paper is to review how music therapy has been used with students with EBD and to propose a model of music therapy for students with EBD in a pyschoeducational setting. With caseloads increasing for music therapists, organization and planning of the music therapy program is an effective way to optimize services. The model presented is designed to combine the music therapy process with the 9-week grading period of the school setting and provides suggestions for music therapy and other therapeutic modalities to work collaboratively with students with EBD.