Music Therapy Clinician: Supporting reflective clinical practice Volume 1 | Page 21

6. Burnout, longevity, and retention
When the birthing center staff told the mother she was completely dilated and
ready to push, the whole family cried tears of joy. All their prenatal planning
and practicing had paid off. However, just a short time later, an emergency
cesarean section was required. I felt disappointed and defeated that their birth
had changed so unexpectedly. I continued to provide musical support for what
was happening in the operating room. I sensed an acute shift from joy to
complete disappointment and utter confusion. I comforted Mom with her
favorite relaxation music from our prenatal visits. The richness of the cello
sustain and support of the lamenting melodies now seemed to help support the
heaviness of the emotion in the room. It tugged at my heart so deeply. No
matter how professional I tried to remain, my throat tightened, my eyes
overflowed, and I cried with the family as they signed the consent for surgery.

I described this birth during a peer supervision session. “How did you feel when you left
that birth?” she asked me. Even though I left the birth feeling as though I had provided
the best care possible, my first response was, “I don’t want to do this anymore.”
The birth was emotionally draining, and I began to recognize the significance of “bearing
witness” to so many births. As we discussed this potential impact, we recognized the
need for a regular self care routines. We each identified ways to use creative arts to
nurture ourselves professionally and personally before, during, and after births.
So, what happens next?
First, we encourage you to take a deep breath, recognize, and acknowledge
what you have personally experienced as you’ve read these vignettes. Listen to your
body and your spirit. We understand these stories can evoke strong physical and
emotional responses that perhaps even relate to your own experiences. Ask yourself if
you need to invest in self care after reading this article.
Next, we urge you to start looking at your own maze. Are you stuck, confused,
lost? Are you looking for a companion to help you understand the maze? Do you long to
develop new paths of growth and development in your music therapy practice? Finding
another music therapist (or a group) who understands your work is essential to
developing your own clinical skills, intuition, and strength.
Finally, we encourage you to create or receive some form of clinical supervision.
Peer supervision helped us understand the complexity of our clinical needs and
appreciate the beauty of our work. It continues to give us fresh perspective each day,
provides insight into our strengths and weaknesses, and gives us hope for growth in
ourselves and others.

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