Written by: Molli Smith, MT Intern As I am heading into month 5 of my internship, I wanted to reflect on my experience at PMT and the personal growth I have seen within myself. In the beginning, I was extremely nervous and did not have a lot of confidence in my skills. Finding an internship was a tough and lengthy process for me, and after receiving multiple “no’s,” it was becoming harder to envision myself reaching this point. It took some adjustment to get back in the groove of doing clinical work and trusting in the knowledge and skills that I had. Among the required American Music Therapy Association (AMTA) Professional Competencies that I have been working on, I have seen substantial growth in the following: 9.1 Recognize the impact of one's own feelings, attitudes, and actions on the client and the therapy process. When I first started co-leading some sessions, I would spend a lot of time practicing and worrying about how things were going to go. While this allowed me to be prepared for the interventions I was leading, I feel as though it hindered my ability to fully connect with the clients. I was so focused on my own readiness and emotions that I was not as present within the sessions. Now, however, I feel more confident in my skills and instincts, which allow me to be flexible and adapt based on client needs and responses. 17.8 Demonstrate critical self-awareness of strengths and weaknesses. In the early months of my internship, I would struggle to think of things I did well in sessions. I would immediately point out what I wished I had done differently instead. Although this critical self-awareness allowed me to develop within those areas of need, it was also important for me to learn how to acknowledge and praise areas I was succeeding in. This definitely took some practice, but as I have grown more confident in my skills, I am able to evaluate myself in a more objective way. While there is still more to learn and growth to experience, I am proud of myself for how far I have come in such a short time. I look forward to completing my internship and truly starting my career as a music therapist. I am excited to see how I continue to evolve on both a professional and personal level. Interested in learning more about the educational journey of music therapy internships? Check out the AMTA Standards of Clinical Practice available online.
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PMTProviding music therapy services for early childhood to older adults, music instruction and enrichment plus continuing music therapy education in Greater Charlotte Area of the Carolinas. Archives
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