The Economics of Therapy-Caring for Clients, Colleagues, Competitors, and Cash-Flow

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Abstract:

We have little control over the financial health of government budgets; however, we can be proactive in controlling the financial health of our own businesses. Music therapists have distinct core therapeutic skills including attunement, improvisation, and listening that are learnt for and honed in the clinical space; can these skills also be used to develop successful music therapy businesses? This paper draws on current research to explore how the state of our financial health as music therapists both individually and as a profession has the potential to impact the work we do and therefore the outcomes available to clients.

Learner Objectives:

1. Participants will be able to identify at least three ethical issues within a “for-profit” music therapy business (CBMT Scope of Practice: IV. B. 9)

2. Participants will be able to identify at least two ways in which music therapy skills transfer to business (CBMT Scope of Practice: IV. B. 9)

3. Participants will be able to identify at least one aspect of three different business models (for-profit, not-for-profit, charitable) which can impact service delivery (CBMT Scope of Practice: IV. B. 6. 9).

 

About Daniel Thomas, BA(Hons), PGDip(MT) & Vicky Abad, MEd (Research), PGDip(MT), BA Mus:

Daniel Thomas, BA(Hons), PGDip(MT), is Director of Chroma (wearechroma.com). He has many years’ experience as a clinician, business owner and entrepreneur in the industry.

Vicky Abad is the Director of Boppin’ Babies, Founding Director of Sing & Grow, and Music Therapy Program Director University of Queensland. She has experience and expertise in establishing large scale music therapy programs.

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