TY - JOUR
T1 - Experiences of music therapy students working as camp counselors for individuals with autism spectrum disorder
T2 - A thematic analysis
AU - Silverman, Michael J.
AU - West, Rebecca
AU - Schwartzberg, Edward T.
AU - Hunt, Chantise
AU - Peterson, Melody R.
AU - Shibley, Lauren
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2018, © 2018 GAMUT–The Grieg Academy Music Therapy Research Centre.
PY - 2018/10/20
Y1 - 2018/10/20
N2 - The purpose of this study was to understand the experiences of music therapy students working as camp counselors for individuals with ASD. We conducted semi-structured interviews with graduate and undergraduate students (N = 6) and used thematic analysis to analyze data. Three major themes and nine supporting subthemes emerged. The first theme, Various Differences, was supported by four subthemes: Despite having similar diagnoses, all campers are highly idiosyncratic; Success is different for each camper; Camp is unique as nobody is different because everybody is different; and Counselors have a unique and holistic relationship with campers. The second theme, Counselor Learning, was supported by three subthemes: Counselors experienced changed perspectives and learned from the campers; Counselors learned about and practiced techniques through music therapy observations; and Counselors gained confidence, patience, and experienced personal growth. The third theme, Positive Experience, was supported by two subthemes: Being a counselor for individuals with ASD is a rewarding experience; and Counselors had supportive relationships with their peers. Being a camp counselor for individuals with ASD was a uniquely positive learning experience that provided students with a deeper and more holistic understanding of ASD and themselves as prospective clinicians.
AB - The purpose of this study was to understand the experiences of music therapy students working as camp counselors for individuals with ASD. We conducted semi-structured interviews with graduate and undergraduate students (N = 6) and used thematic analysis to analyze data. Three major themes and nine supporting subthemes emerged. The first theme, Various Differences, was supported by four subthemes: Despite having similar diagnoses, all campers are highly idiosyncratic; Success is different for each camper; Camp is unique as nobody is different because everybody is different; and Counselors have a unique and holistic relationship with campers. The second theme, Counselor Learning, was supported by three subthemes: Counselors experienced changed perspectives and learned from the campers; Counselors learned about and practiced techniques through music therapy observations; and Counselors gained confidence, patience, and experienced personal growth. The third theme, Positive Experience, was supported by two subthemes: Being a counselor for individuals with ASD is a rewarding experience; and Counselors had supportive relationships with their peers. Being a camp counselor for individuals with ASD was a uniquely positive learning experience that provided students with a deeper and more holistic understanding of ASD and themselves as prospective clinicians.
KW - Music therapy students
KW - autism
KW - camp counselor
KW - experiential learning
KW - interpretivist
KW - thematic analysis
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U2 - 10.1080/08098131.2018.1490922
DO - 10.1080/08098131.2018.1490922
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85053317435
SN - 0809-8131
VL - 27
SP - 431
EP - 447
JO - Nordic Journal of Music Therapy
JF - Nordic Journal of Music Therapy
IS - 5
ER -