Serbia

Music therapy in Serbia traces its origins to Dr. Petar Stanković, who first introduced the term music therapy in a medical, clinical context in 1945. Despite his pioneering efforts, the music therapy practice saw limited institutional support and stagnated for several decades.
The profession began to evolve more formally in 1994 with the clinical and academic work of the psychiatrist Dr. Ranka Radulović, who established the Association of Music
Therapists of Serbia (AMTS). In 2008, she also initiated a four-year private music therapy education program, based exclusively on clinical methods and approaches she had
developed. AMTS joined the European Music Therapy Confederation in 2004, and stayed its active member until 2023.
In the absence of accredited training programs in music therapy in Serbia, a number of Serbian citizens have been pursuing advanced studies (Master’s and PhD levels) in music therapy abroad. While some of these professionals have returned to Serbia, many continue to live and work across Europe. In 2023, this profile of music therapists established the Serbian Professional Music Therapy Network (SPMMT), a non-governmental, professional organization aimed at uniting professionally trained music therapists, further developing educational pathways, and promoting high ethical and professional standards
in the field.
The Serbian Professional Music Therapy Network serves as a hub for professionally trained music therapists, providing a platform for their collaboration through events, workshops, seminars, and conferences. These activities engage both the general public and potential service users, while also enabling music therapists to connect, share knowledge, and exchange experiences. It also facilitates the exchange of information on professional
development opportunities across Europe for its members.
Since 2024, the SPMMT has been officially recognized as a member of the European Music Therapy Confederation (EMTC), and is currently the only professional music therapy organization representing Serbia within the EMTC.

Definition of music therapy

Music therapy is defined as a clinical and evidence-based practice that uses music interventions to achieve individualized therapeutic goals within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional who has completed an approved music therapy program. It integrates elements of music, psychology, neuroscience, and medicine to address physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of individuals across the lifespan.

Music therapy may involve active techniques (such as instrument playing, singing, improvisation, and songwriting) or receptive techniques (such as guided music listening, relaxation, and imagery).

Theoretical foundations

The initial theoretical foundation of music therapy in Serbia was rooted in prenatal psychology and a psychiatry focused framework developed by Dr. Ranka Radulović based on her clinical work in psychiatric and neurological institutions. 

Today, a new generation of Serbian music therapists trained at European universities is enriching the field with diverse, contemporary practices and international perspectives.

As a result of Dr Radulovic’s efforts, music therapy in Serbia holds partial recognition within the healthcare system. Since 2008, it has been included as a reimbursable service under the national health insurance scheme, following its classification in the official nomenclature of medical services at the secondary and tertiary care levels. However, reimbursement is currently limited to services provided by licensed medical doctors and other authorized medical personnel.

While this legal framework formally exists, its thorough implementation remains challenging. At present, Serbia lacks an accredited educational program for professional music therapists and has only a small number of active practitioners, most of whom were trained internationally. Advancing the profession and achieving broader recognition will require systematic action, starting with the creation of a formal, accredited training program.

Formal educational opportunities in music therapy within the country remain limited, with no accredited academic programs available to date.

Currently, the only existing MT Education is conducted by Hatorum – Center for Education and Counseling. This 4 year music therapy training program, established in 2002, is based solely on clinical methods developed by Dr. Ranka Radulović and includes theoretical instruction, supervised clinical practice, and personal development.

Recent publications and presentations by Serbian music therapists and their colleagues: 

Golubovic, J., Neerland, B. E., Simpson, M. R., et al. (2025). A randomized pilot and feasibility trial of live and recorded music interventions for management of delirium symptoms in acute geriatric patients. BMC Geriatrics, 25, 306. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-025-05954-1

Golubovic, J., Baker, F. A., Simpson, M. R., & Neerland, B. E. (2024). Live and recorded music interventions for management of delirium symptoms in acute geriatric patients: Protocol for a randomized feasibility trial. Nordic Journal of Music Therapy, 33(1), 62-83. https://doi.org/10.1080/08098131.2023.2192759 

Golubovic, J. (2024). Music interventions for delirium in older adults. NMH Publications: 2024:5 Stedje, K., Bosnes Engen, R., & Golubovic, J. (2023). Kapittel 3A. I T. Kvæmme, K. Stensæth, & K. Johanson (Red.), Etablering og ledelse av demenskors: Veileder (pp. 28–37). Norwegian Academy of Music. https://nmh.brage.unit.no/nmh-xmlui/bitstream/handle/11250/3161782/Etablering_og_ledelse_av_demenskor_Veileder.pdf?s 

Golubovic, J., Neerland, B. E., Aune, D., & Baker, F. A. (2022). Music Interventions and Delirium in Adults: A Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis. BrainnSciences, 12(5), 568. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci12050568 

Roy Chaudhury, N., & Ilić, I. (2019). Instrumentalna agresija kao posledica usporenog razvoja govora- studija slučaja i evaluacija muzikoterapijskih tretmana.  http://erf.untz.ba/web/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Zbornik_2019-_II-dio.pdf

Roy Chaudhury, N., & Ilić, I. (2018). Efekti muzikoterapije na razvoj dece sa neurorazvojnim poteskoćama First international congress of child and adolescent psychotherapy, Sarajevo 2018. https://congress.bhidapa.ba/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Book-of-Abstracts-2018.pdf

Radulović, R. (2010): Qualitative Analysis of the Analytical Lisic Listening (ALM) Music Selaction – The Guided Fantasies Method (GFM) in Sabbatella,P.L..: : Evidence for Music therapy Practice, Research & Education, Selected Readings & Proceedings of the VIII European Music Therapy Congress ,Cadiz, Spain, 5-9 May 2010 – Research Team HUM -794. P.59-67

In Serbia there are currently two associations of music therapists – Association of Music therapists of Serbia AMTS (founded in 2001) and Serbian Professional Music Therapy Network SPMMT (founded in 2023).  SPMMT is currently the only active member of the EMTC representing Serbia.