Goals of Care with One Music Therapy Client

At Emily’s House children’s hospice, our Music Therapist works with children clients on Goals of Care, as with one baby who progressed from reaching, to grasping, to shaking musical instruments. The Goal of Care as determined with his parents included some of these physical milestones, which delighted the parents to witness, and filled the baby with joy as he interacted with physical objects and the world around him with new autonomy.  As time went on, the parents’ Goal of Care was simply that the child might experience meaningful interactions through Music Therapy. Our Music Therapist worked with the small child, using instruments, voice, sound, and intuitively incorporating elements from her therapeutic training to engaged the child in a “call and response”/“turn taking” exchange. His parents were thrilled, saying: “They had never seen him sit so still, or be so engaged. They never imagined he would learn to take turns.” For them, this social-skill milestone was a very meaningful accomplishment and a gift to their family. The adventure continues as our Music Therapist now sees this child in a virtual group program that connects children clients for further socializing opportunities, and encourages dad to incorporate new engagement tools into his routine with his child.

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