Music Therapy Internships
Music therapy is a kind of mental health treatment in which music is used within a therapeutic relationship to address a patient’s physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs. It can provide a non-verbal outlet and help patients develop self-care techniques and coping strategies that reduce stress and foster improved mental well-being.
Setting: Sheppard Pratt Inpatient Hospital (Towson, MD)
About the internship:
This internship will take place on Sheppard Pratt hospital units and programs, located in Towson, MD. These units and programs serve individuals with acute psychiatric and behavioral health needs requiring inpatient and day hospitalization services.
Music therapy services (group and individual sessions) are primarily provided across adolescent inpatient units, some adult general inpatient units, and certain specialty units including eating disorders. Patient’s average length of stay is approximately 7-14 days.
Through a variety of music therapy interventions and trauma informed perspectives, clinicians aim to stabilize psychiatric symptoms, as well as aid patients' safe transition back into community life.
Length of internship:
- 22 weeks/5-6-months
- Approx. 40 hours/week (flexible start date)
Eligibility requirements:
- Must be a current student at an accredited, AMTA approved music therapy program (bachelor's or master's equivalency level)
- Must be enrolled at an academic institution that has an existing contract with Sheppard Pratt
- Must have completed at least three semesters of practicum with various populations
- Must have a strong foundation in the following: musicianship (ability to accompany self on guitar and piano), trauma informed care, child/adolescent mental health theory and related music therapy theory and practice, Piaget's stages of development or Erikson's stages of development, clinical reasoning, foundations of evidence-based practice, group theory and application, and teaching/learning concepts and applications related to staff, client, and caregiver education.
General description of duties/projects:
- Observe group and individual sessions led by music therapists
- Research relevant populations for best practices and treatment implementations
- Co-lead/lead music therapy groups with clinician support
- Session plan and document sessions
- Develop student musicianship (voice/guitar/piano)
- Complete daily internship journal
- Attend weekly 1:1 supervision sessions