Application Of Songwriting Intervention At My Outpatient...

I was eager to facilitate a songwriting intervention in my outpatient adolescent group last month. All eight patients appeared engaged while cutting out quotes, drawing, and gluing words meant to express how they view positive change in their lives. Each young person openly shared their narrative, all except one. With two minutes left of the group, she sighed and read her words aloud. A suicide note slowly formed. I asked several questions about the person in the song, ensured that the patient would be safe, and immediately sought out their case manager. Recognizing the boundaries of my scope of practice as a music therapist, ethically, I could not further process this patient’s suicidal ideation. As an adolescent myself, I unexpectedly lost two close family members shortly after my parents’ divorce. As my mom struggled with finances, gambling addiction, and hoarding, I attempted to help by taking on financial and household responsibilities. My older brother, typically a pillar of support, was sent to complete an inpatient addiction program. I increasingly turned to alcohol, smoking, and excessive sleep to dampen my feelings of despair and anxiety. Meanwhile, I missed over 25 percent of my high school classes, was a frequent patron of my dean’s office, and had grades slipping further down the alphabet. School counselors and social workers quickly caught on to my sudden decline and became familiar faces. My dean frequently asked me to explain my motivations and challenged