Supervision
The Supervision Action Team works to highlight the importance of supervision for all professional music therapists and to share information about supervision training and practice in Europe.
This page provides definition of supervision and links to two reports produced by the Supervision Action Team and presented at the 11th Nordic Music Therapy Conference in Aalborg, Denmark, June 26-29, 2024.
Definitions
SUPERVISION
ANSE – The Association of National Organisations for Supervision in Europe:
Supervision and coaching is a form of counselling serving the assurance and development of the quality of communication and cooperation in professional contexts.
Supervision primarily serves the development of individuals and organisations. It improves the professional lives of individuals regarding their roles in institutional contexts.
MUSIC THERAPY SUPERVISION
The Association of Professional Music Therapists (APMT) of England (1990):
Supervision is a process to enable music therapists to discover ways of improving their working practice through examination and exploration with the supervisor, of casework in a supportive way.
Odell-Miller, H. (2009). The history and background of supervision in music therapy. In H. Odell- Miller & E. Richards (Eds.), Supervision of Music Therapy: A theoretical and practical handbook (pp. 5-23). Routledge, Taylor&Francis Group. London and New York.
New Zealand, Music Therapy Registration Board (2019):
Supervision is a formal, collaborative process in which two or more professionals meet to discuss the clinical content and process of the supervisee’s/supervisees’ work. The role of supervision also relates to the maintenance of professional standards and competency.
Supervision in practice for music therapists can be described as a tool to maintain and strengthen work of an individual or a team, or the work of anyone engaged in any kind of consultation, leadership, teaching, care or therapy.
www.musictherapy.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/IS3-Supervision-Information- Sheet-final.pdf
Reports
The Supervision Action Team has produced two reports, which were presented at the 11th Nordic Music Therapy Conference in Aalborg, June 26-29, 2024:
The Supervision Action Team has also created a helpful set of guidelines for member associations seeking to prioritise regular supervision of music therapists in their countries.
A new book about music therapy supervision will be published on 22nd August 2025 by Hachette UK. Links to online bookstores for pre-ordering can be found here: hachette.co.uk
From the Hachette UK website:
This comprehensive guide brings together the diverse experiences of supervisors and supervisees following the music therapy career journey from the first training placement to an established and nuanced career.
Elevating the voice of the supervisee to speak in concert with the supervisor, a balanced focus addresses not only support for supervising trainees in the current field, but the effect this has on supervisees’ professional development and the subsequent impact on future clients.
TOGETHER WE GROW
Register your association today!
By joining forces with other European countries, we can create opportunities for growth
that would not be possible on our own.