Music therapy and social recovery in flexible assertive community treatment

ABSTRACT

Introduction

While recovery has been highlighted as a prime aspect in the flexible assertive community treatment (FACT) model, research on the application of this model in Norway suggests that there is still a potential for providing service users with better participation in the local society. Music therapy has been highlighted as a form of intersubjective activity that is relational and can promote empowerment and personal recovery. The social aspect of recovery has been highlighted in recent years, and this article explores how music therapy, offered through FACT, may support social recovery for service users.

Method

The research design was that of a qualitative interview study. Six semi-structured, joint interviews were conducted with FACT service users and their music therapist.

Results

Using reflexive thematic analysis, the main theme music therapy as social recovery was generated, with four relating sub-themes: musicking as activity, musicking as social handcraft, musicking as togetherness, and musicking as network.

Discussion

Using the framework of social recovery, this article discusses the potential of music therapy within FACT as a collaborative activity that can provide recovery capital – including social and musical capital – and potentially contribute to social recovery.

KEYWORDS:

• Mental health
• recovery capital
• community
• relationship
• collaborative musicking
• empowerment

Acknowledgments

I would like to thank Anne Landheim and the team at Hospital Inn for accommodating my research. Thank you also to the researchers at the Centre for Research in Music and Health at the Norwegian Academy of Music for reflexive dialogues from the outset of this study throughout the entire process, particularly Hans Petter Solli, Karette Stensæth, and Gro Trondalen, and the research assistants at Ansgar University College: Carina Klaussen, Ida S. Kolbjørnsrud, and Eline Årset. A special and humble thank you to the participants in the study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Correction Statement

This article has been corrected with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Notes

¹ See Trane et al. (2021) for a discussion on the integration of FACT in the Norwegian public service system.

² The post-doctoral study is carried out as part of my position at Ansgar University College, where I also teach in the music and health bachelor programme. My current post-doctoral research builds on my interest and professional competence in music and health studies.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Marie Strand Skånland

Marie Strand Skånland, PhD, is Head of Research, Associate Professor and a post doc researcher at Ansgar University College in Norway, where she teaches at the BA program in Music and Health. Skånland holds an MA in Musicology from the University of Oslo and a PhD in Music and Health studies from the Norwegian Academy of Music. Topics of particular interest through her research have been everyday music listening, self-regulation and life quality. Her current post doc research explores relationships and social belonging in and through music therapy in the context of Flexible Assertive Community Treatment.