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Navigating Your Internship

Amy Clements-Cortes, PhD

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How Do I Find A Place to Intern?

CAMT MembershipDownload the CAMT

Internship RegistryFind Several Sites that

Interest YouMake an Appointment with

Dr. Cortes to Discuss and Plan

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Applying

Contact the sites you wish to apply via e-mail or phone

Ask for Reference Letters

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Interviews

Phone or On-site?Be PreparedTalk to Former Interns

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Internship Offer

Respond ASAPCAMT Proposal

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Accreditation Manual

Download accreditation manual

Download Code of Ethics

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You’ve Started

Discuss the Supervision ScheduleObserve and Build Up a Case-

LoadSolidify Goals for the Internship-

Personal, Professional, Clinical and Musical

ReadQuestions/Concerns Talk to Dr.

Cortes

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Musical Goals1. Goal: To become increasingly

comfortable with the repertoire for this population– Objective: a) I will learn 10 songs

each month2Goal: To improve at leading

from the piano and accompanying myself while I sing.– Objective: a)I will practice singing

and playing at the piano at least one hour a day

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Clinical Goals1. Goal: To develop more ideas for creating

music therapy sessions that are purposeful and beneficial for clients. Objective: a) I will do reading and find resources to get ideas

b) I will try out my new found ideas 2.Goal:To continue to develop verbal

therapy skills in addition to my musical skills. Objective: a)I will do some reading on verbal therapy from

counselling books b)I will put what I learn into practice3.Goal: To improve on my improvisational

skillsObjective: a) I will practice improvising to become increasingly

comfortable with it

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Professional Goals

1.Goal: To gain more knowledge and understanding of other health professions I work alongside.– Objective: a) I will observe them and talk

with them

2. Goal: To become familiarized to the

daily routines and expectations of a music therapist in order to be prepared for work once my internship is over.Objective: a) I will read about other practicing music therapists and how they do their work.

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Personal Goal

1.Goal: To become more confident and self-assured when leading sessions. Objective: a) I will give myself positive self-talk.

b)I will do leading many times a day and through experience become more confident.

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PERSONAL APPROACHES AND SELF-EVALUATION

My personal approaches to music therapy are:focused on client’s behaviour(s) and implementing interventions to benefit the client. I do not necessarily use a behaviourist approach, such as reward and punishment, to change client’s behaviour. Instead I use an eclectic approach that focuses on altering client behaviour. This includes borrowing the technique of counseling from the psychotherapy model of music therapy and guided imagery from the Bonny method of music therapy.

The music therapy model that I most identify with is:

I most identify with the Behaviourist model of music therapy.

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Personal Approaches References

Three sources from the literature that support this model are…(at least one should be less than five years old; please cite all sources):

Eidsen, C.E. (1989). The effect of behavioral music therapy on the generalization of interpersonal skills from sessions to the classroom by emotionally handicapped middle school clients. Journal of Music Therapy, 26, 206-221.

Madsen, C.K., Cotter, V.A. & Madsen, C.H. Jr. (1968). “A behavioral approach to music therapy”, Journal of Music Therapy, 5, 69-71.

Standley, J., Johnson, C.M., Robb, S.L., Brownell, M.D., & Kim, Shin-Hee. (2004). Behavioral Approach to Music Therapy. In A. Darrow (Eds.), Introduction to Approaches in Music Therapy 103-123. Silver Spring, MD: American Music Therapy Association, Inc.

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The techniques I utilize in sessions include:

I try to incorporate a variety of techniques in each of my sessions. The main technique I utilize is active music-making, typically singing and playing instruments. This can be done to pre-composed music or improvising new melodies and rhythms. If clients are unable to sing or play instruments, they will engage in the technique of music listening. I also incorporate movement to music, which can be as simple as inviting clients to clap along to the music I am playing or inviting clients to dance to the music. Discussion is another technique I use, which includes lyrical analysis and inviting clients to answer questions about the theme featured in the session.

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Personality traits that contribute to my

effectiveness as a music therapist are:

I am very organized so I am able to plan sessions efficiently and have everything prepared and ready to go. This includes having the room set up and making sure my guitar is properly tuned. I am also punctual so my sessions start on time and I arrive at the location of the sessions early, which allows me to make sure the client(s) are ready and prepared for the session. I am a friendly person and enjoy getting to know people, including clients, which helps in planning sessions that client(s) will enjoy, as well as ensuring sessions are beneficial for them. I also have good problem-solving skills, which allow me to help clients more effectively. I am a caring and sensitive person so I am able to feel empathy (when appropriate) for clients. I am a reflective person so I am constantly evaluating and reflecting on my work as a music therapist.

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Common Internship Requirements

Work Day and Duration– 5 day, 35 hour week– 6-7 Months – Flexible work week possible

Clinical Requirements– Observation– Assessment, Treatment Planning– One-on-One sessions and small groups– Evaluation– Documentation

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Academic Requirements

Statement of goalsStatement of belief re:use of

musicProposalCase StudyGroup ReportFinal ReportPresentation/In-service

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Application Procedure

Resume and Cover Letter

2-3 Letters of Recommendation

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Final Thoughts