A Reflection on my Music Therapy Internship

By: Ashton Becks, MT Intern

Wow, I cannot believe that my internship has already come to a close. 

I remember the first time I nervously drove to the clinic for my interview. I was eager to find the right place for this next chapter but also trying not to make a fool of myself! Silly me! Thankfully, I was welcomed with immediate kindness and care and found out a couple weeks later that I had been offered the internship!

That interview was in February 2025, and now, an entire year later, I am driving up for a final time with confidence, encouragement, a bit of sadness, and a sense of accomplishment.

I learned a few things over these past 6 months that my supervisors and clients have taught me so well. 

• First, you really can accomplish what you set your mind to. When I was a freshman in college, I thought it a near impossible feat to finish school and do a 6 month internship and sit for the board exam. The cliche saying of “one step at a time” really isn’t so cliche I’ve learned. 

• Second: Though I was providing the music therapy services, I grew and became a better human from interacting with my clients. I am so grateful that so many different people were willing to share space with me and let me step into their lives for a brief season.

• Third: Music therapy is such a powerful and impactful modality. Period.

• Fourth: There’s too many lessons to make this list exhaustive, but

• Fifth: Trust your gut! My supervisors told me over and over again that I had the capability to grow and provide great services, but I often allowed my own self-doubt to get in the way.

• 

  PMT Staff and Interns stand together against a brick building with bright smiles.

Reflection is a great tool to see where you’ve come and what has changed, and this post really reminds of all the sessions, documentations, reports, laughs, revelations, trying-out-new-things moments, pushing-through-hard-days moments, and supportive staff, family, and friends that these last 6 months have been filled with. And I have to say,

I’m so grateful.

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For music therapy students, an internship is a truly life-changing experience. Lean in! Keep pressing! It all is so worth it.

For anyone who is seeking a new goal, take it one step at a time. This goal of completing my internship and sitting for the board exam wasn’t fully realized for 5 years! But, now I’m here! Keep pushing through one step at a time.

And finally, take some time to look back at the past few years of your life. I bet there you have come a lot farther than it seems and persevered through some hard things that made you stronger. Reflection is a super powerful tool that leads to motivation, gratitude, and needed perspective. Try 5 minutes!

Thank you PMT! You’ve changed my life,

Ashton