Logo image
Music therapy with people experiencing homelessness: a narrative review
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Music therapy with people experiencing homelessness: a narrative review

Bronwen M. Landless, Abbey L. Dvorak, Susan Hadley and Joke Bradt
Journal of Social Distress and Homeless, v ahead-of-print(ahead-of-print), pp 1-13
17 Mar 2023

Abstract

Homelessness marginalization music therapy narrative review research methods
The experience of homelessness goes beyond being houseless and requires a whole-person-in-context approach. Although scant and varied, research with people experiencing homelessness suggests positive benefits from music therapy. Narrative reviews are helpful to synthesize literature with varied levels of evidence and research perspectives. The purpose of this narrative literature review is to provide a critical overview of the extant music therapy literature related to people experiencing homelessness and to inform recommendations for future research and practice. The 22 studies that meet inclusion criteria focused on three main areas of knowledge: (a) the impact of music therapy on people experiencing homelessness, (b) considerations for using music therapy with people experiencing homelessness, and (c) both a and b. Studies about the impact of music therapy indicate benefits including experiencing, regulating, and expressing emotions; engaging in meaningful connection and support; and developing and expressing identities that resist oppression. Other studies offer considerations related to musical preferences, aspects of the therapeutic process, and the therapists' position in terms of culture and power. Ongoing research about the role of music therapy in approaching and understanding homelessness is recommended.

Metrics

Details

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This publication has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

#1 No Poverty
#3 Good Health and Well-Being
#5 Gender Equality

InCites Highlights

Data related to this publication, from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool:

Collaboration types
Domestic collaboration
Web of Science research areas
Social Work
Logo image