A Moment Of Reflection

Ms. Molli is pictured, masked and smiling, surrounded by instruments for the Culture Blocks Songs With Friends Program at the Steele Creek Branch Library. ✨Songs With Friends is sponsored by Culture Blocks - a community partnership funded by Mecklenburg County.

Written by: Molli Smith, MT Intern

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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:  

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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.
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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.
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Educational Journey

​Interested in learning more about the educational journey of music therapy internships? Check out the AMTA Standards of Clinical Practice available online.