Music Therapy Clinician: Supporting reflective clinical practice Volume 1 | Page 14
Creative Expressions of Peer Supervision
in Pre and Perinatal Music Therapy (PPMT)*
Heidi Lengel, MMT, MT-BC & Kate Taylor, MA, MT-BC
In our work as music therapists, we (try to!) make families stronger during
pregnancy and birth by using the power of music. Our goal is to intimately connect
Moms and babies so that both of them experience the healthiest birth possible.
Together, we walk (sometimes dance) through paths of joy, pain, strength, despair,
hope, and LOTS of bodily fluids. These experiences are:
Exhilarating.
Challenging.
Frustrating.
Inspiring.
Confusing.
Joyful.
Enlightening?
Therapist’s exploration of a birth experience filled
with seemingly contrasting emotions.
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The Mom & her Partner were full of nervous energy at our first meeting. Late to the
game of hiring a birth support professional, the Mom had severe anxiety from multiple
childhood traumas, physiological complications that could prevent a vaginal birth, the
baby was breech, and the Partner tragically lost a close family during the pregnancy.
They seemed extremely fragile during each visit, and we had only 2 weeks to prepare for
the birth. Parts of her story resonated deeply with me, and I found myself struggling to
maintain clear clinical vision. I wanted to rescue (and not rescue) her all at once. I felt a
deep desire for her to grow throughout (and into) her pregnancy and birth, but didn’t
know if she could. I repeatedly felt the tightening grip of anxiety in my gut during our
prenatal visits, needing to re-center myself before, during, and after visits. I wondered
often about the clinical rationale behind the music therapy interventions I offered them. I
wondered if I would be able to support them well. If it (really, I) would be enough.
* Please be advised that some of the case examples contain graphic content.
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In order to protect client confidentiality, all case examples are a compilation of several clients, all of whom
provided written consent.
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