This doctoral thesis, entitled Intertwining of Functional and Psychotherapeutic Orientation in Music Therapy with People with Severe Disabilities(hereinafter SDD), addresses music therapy for children, adolescents and adults with SDD as a key discipline in meeting their needs in various functional areas. Assuming that complex disorders require complex treatments, we explore psychotherapeutic and functional approaches and their interplay in music therapy with individuals with SDD. The aim was to gain an overview of current international practice in music therapy with individuals with SDD and to explore the opportunities and challenges seen by professionals in the field. After examining the existing foreign and Slovenian literature, three studies were performed. The first was a quantitative study where music therapists answered an international questionnaire about therapeutic work with individuals with SDD, the use of psychotherapeutic and functional approaches in practice, and their participation in an interdisciplinary team. The second, qualitative study explored the issue from the perspective of international experts in music therapy with individuals with SDD using a focus group discussion. The third study complemented the perspective of music therapists with the perspectives of other professionals involved in the treatment of individuals with SDD. Qualitative analysis of different professionals’ descriptions of music therapy scenes reveals similarities and differences in their interpretation of selected excerpts from videorecorded music therapy sessions. The doctoral thesis makes an important scientific and applied contribution, representing one of the few studies to address individuals with SDD. Drawing on current neuroscientific knowledge, it offers insights into the importance of integrating psychotherapeutic and functional approaches to music therapy. This is the first Slovenian doctoral thesis in the field of music therapy, attesting to its practical contribution to the field. It is also the first time that this specific topic has been researched internationally.
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