|
At Children’s Health in Dallas Texas, past the intricate maze of the hospital lobby and hallways, behind a thick wood door, lies a collection of cubicles decorated in photos of dogs, colorful nick-knacks, and children’s drawings. To the side of the office space, sits nine rolling carts busting at the seams with instruments ranging from guitars, to bells, and even cat pianos. Further squirreled away, sits a room with nine desks, which too are decorated with photos, dog treats, awards, and more. Though this could seem cramped, to me, it was a space with an overwhelming warmth. Community exudes from the purple walls and welcomes me each week when I meet for practicum. This is the child life office where music therapists, interns, and Certified Child Life Specialists work together to help children cope and heal. Child life is an integral part of the pediatric hospital setting, and usually music therapy is a branch of the child life department. But what exactly is child life? And what is music therapy’s role? According to the Association of Child Life Professionals (2023), “Certified Child Life Specialists (CCLS) play a critical role in supporting child health and wellness, leveraging expertise in helping children and their families to cope with stressful experiences in a variety of settings.” CCLS aid in family/patient coping and developmental needs through interventions like distraction play, explaining medical procedures, education on coping strategies, promoting play and expressive activities, and procedural support (Association, 2023). Child life and music therapy often work in tandem as an interdisciplinary force, aiming to achieve the same goals such as decreasing anxiety, building cognitive skills, increasing language skills, promoting communication and expression, and legacy building (McLeod & Starr, 2021). The interconnectivity of child life and music therapy make for a powerful combination. One can see this reflected in that purple office, tucked away within the walls of the hospital. I have seen how music therapists and the CCLS rely on each other to provide holistic and quality healthcare. Many times, my supervisor and I have walked units in search of a patient, only to run across one of the CCLS. Other times, we’ll co-treat with the CCLS, singing or playing music during an IV placement to provide distraction and pain relief. The two trained professionals speak in a secret code, finishing each other's sentences and sharing the most pertinent information like plan of care, family context, and emotional or physical needs. This collaboration supports the music therapist’s goal to provide in the moment care and consider musical, medical, and therapeutic needs. As I consider the relationship between child life and music therapy, my mind wanders back to the purple office. I see how interwoven these fields are when music therapists feed the child life dogs a treat; I see it in the way the child life specialists will light up at the mention of their favorite song. I can see it outside of the purple office as well, in the halls of the hospital. As a music therapy student, having the privilege to work with and observe the child life team is an experience I will never forget. The purple office will always hold a place in my mind as the symbol of collaboration, care, and cultivation in the pediatric hospital setting. Written by Mercedes Shook, AMTAS Secretary References 
0 Comments
|