Overview
Involving Minimally Speaking Communicators as Collaborators in Group Music Therapy retrospectively explores a doctoral study of participatory action research centred around one year of music therapy with six minimally speaking men living within a residential home. Written in an accessible style with key learnings highlighted throughout, readers will learn about the benefits and challenges of involving minimally speaking communicators in both research and practice. The residents participating in the study had a minimum of 40 years’ experience of long-stay institutional care and were significantly affected by this in terms of their relationships, identity and communication. Chapters explore the progress of the study across 12 months and then dive into the specific experiences of each of the six men, making recommendations for best practice when working within creative therapies with individuals with unusual or limited verbal communication. Readers will engage with critically reflexive action research and practice, supporting agency and engagement for people who may otherwise struggle to communicate. The book concludes with recommendations for practice in both music therapy practice and research and explores resonances for other settings and circumstances. This is an essential read for any music therapy practitioner who wants to improve inclusivity and participant engagement within their practice. It will also be interesting to practitioners of arts and expressive therapy more widely, as well as to health and social care professionals, learning disability nurses, and professionals working on the co-production of action research.
Full Product Details
Author: Catherine Warner
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd
Imprint: Routledge
Weight: 0.500kg
ISBN: 9781041134671
ISBN 10: 1041134673
Pages: 172
Publication Date: 08 April 2026
Audience:
College/higher education
,
Professional and scholarly
,
Tertiary & Higher Education
,
Professional & Vocational
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active
Availability: Not yet available
This item is yet to be released. You can pre-order this item and we will dispatch it to you upon its release.
Reviews
""This participatory project captures a time of significant change in society and lived experiences of institutionalised people. We’re drawn to reconsider our practice and attitudes, treasuring more than verbal communication and its impact on building understanding, choice and belonging."" - Joy Rickwood, Head of Arts Therapies, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board ""Six human stories show how access to group music therapy can empower people who struggle to have a voice. There are so many reasons why people can't speak. This book reminds me that anything is possible."" -Daniel Bateman, Music Therapy Service User Consultant and Health Coach
Author Information
Dr Catherine Warner was Programme Leader and Senior Lecturer for MA Music Therapy and MA Therapeutic Music Studies at the University of the West of England. Catherine is passionate about access to skilled music therapy to support the mental health and empowerment of people with complex needs. She has published books on both music therapy training and supervision.
