CIMTR Public Lecture Series: Music Therapy for Young Children with Selective Mutism - Dr Kate Jones

Selective mutism (SM) is a serious anxiety disorder that affects some children when they begin school (Toppelberg 2005) and the long-term impact of the disorder, if untreated, can include complex, debilitating mental health conditions. There is evidence to suggest music therapy is a potentially helpful intervention (Jones 2012) but increased understanding of the therapeutic processes involved is needed. This presentation will share findings from multiple case studies of music therapy for children with SM aged 3-5 and report the development of a theoretical framework to guide practice and inform future research in this field. Dr Kate Jones trained at Roehampton University and has been working as a music therapist for 23 years. Kate is Director of the charity Music Therapy Lambeth, which she founded 14 years ago. During this time in Lambeth, Kate has become passionate about the potential role of music therapy in the treatment of selective mutism having witnessed its transformative effects through her clinical work. Kate completed her PhD at ARU in 2019 and is committed to continuing research in this area.