“TAKE THE MUSIC WHERE YOU ARE READY TO GO”: SINGLE SESSION ADAPTED FOCUSED MUSIC IMAGERY IN ADULT ACUTE PSYCHIATRY

Due to COVID-19, therapeutic services in some psychiatric hospitals had to be changed significantly. This paper details how music therapy services were modified from the usual 50- to 60-minute group session, to brief individual sessions lasting 7–8 minutes. Because the sessions could not include anything that would require disinfection (instruments, song books, art supplies, etc.), tailored versions of Focused Music Imagery and Vocal Psychotherapy were the main interventions used. This paper will describe how these approaches became combined and will be illustrated through seven clinical vignettes. A call for continued exploration and research is included within the historical context of Helen Bonny’s initial calling to exploring the therapeutic and transformative applications of music.