Music therapy - Is that normal?

[Dev9aug]

DS1 started music therapy couple of weeks ago. It is once a week for 30 minutes. The first session was good. In the second and third session, the first 15 min were great, but after 15 mins, therapist offered him some bells and he started stimming with them. She started playing piano whilst he was doing this and the more he stimmed, the faster she played and the faster she played, the more he stimmed, you get the picture. Until we put a stop to it.

I don't think this is right that he be allowed to stim like that, but the therapist thinks he should be as it is his time to be 'free'. we have been asked not to attend sessions with him as they want the therapist to be alone with him which I don't feel comfortable with. so please tell me, is it normal? wwyd in my situation.

[hazeyjane]

Hmm, I don't know if it is normal (I am actually not entirely sure what is normal anymore!!). But I too would be uncomfortable with not being welcome at the sessions. I don't know much about stimming, so I don't know whether what she is doing is a good thing or not. But, I would say if you have doubts then you need to go with your instincts.

[AgnesDiPesto]

I asked our ABA supervisor about music therapy once and she said from what she had seen from children on her caseload who did it privately the kids were allowed to stim all the time and it was not worth the money

[Dev9aug]

Thanks hazey. I would never have left him alone there and have no intention of doing so.

Agnes That is pretty much what I have come to realise now. It goes completely against what we have been trying to do for the last ten months with ABA. It is a shame we have to stop, because done properly I could see that it would have been brilliant to encourage communication between the pupil and the therapist. ah well, you live and learn.

[moleskin]

Our therapy sessions were about trying to calm dd and engage with her. Music therapist found what she liked which was to place her on top of a huge drum while she binges the drum. Dd almost fell asleep on top of it!!! First few times though dd did try to whizz round the room and not engage so therapist sat her in a chair which helped

[Dev9aug]

BTW Hazey I have uploaded the book on the thread about eating and drinking difficulties, do check it out. I think it could be very useful for you, it certainly has been for us.

[moondog]

Music therapy can be a great thing and one of the most powerful weapons in an arsenal of behavioural interventions.
I have had the great pleasure of working with many great MTs, several of whom are fully aware of my commitment to ABA and who, after some healthy discussion, get where we are coming from. Some of my best work is done with a great teacher and a great MT.
I also have a small separate business with one.

But if they don't get it, then they can indeed reinforce all sorts of undesired behaviours as you describe Dev. If you don't feel comfortable with it, then trust your instincts. I would also hear massive alarm bells about any intervention which requests the parent stays away.