Influences of music therapists’ worldviews on work in different countries

This research investigated the worldviews that music therapists hold and how these influence their music therapy practice and teaching. Information was gathered from 12 participants who had lived and worked in 16 different countries, all of whom had experience as both music therapy clinicians and teachers. Participants were asked, “What views do you hold that are a part of your culture that you believe may influence your music therapy or teaching of music therapy?” The researchers performed an inductive analysis of the data using principles of grounded theory methods. Four themes were found to represent the main influences of culture relevant to music therapy as understood and described by the participants: the influence of culture in shaping worldviews, on clinical practice, on teaching, and on perception and thinking about the therapeutic process. These themes and constructs that constitute each are presented, along with sample quotations from participants to illustrate each. Participants’ views of culture and worldview are also presented. Implications of this research for the teaching and practice of music therapy in a multicultural world are discussed.