Describe a session plan that did not go well. Why was it not successful and what did you learn from it?

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Answer Example

There may be times when music therapy sessions do not go well. The patient may be nonverbal or low functioning, and you might not be able to tell if therapy is working for them. Or, there might be a patient who does not participate or becomes agitated with a particular song. The interviewer wants to see that you realize when a session does not go well and how you problem solve and learn from the experience. Describe a time a session did not go well and what you learned from it.

"I had a session with a teenage patient who had suffered horrible abuse when they were younger. I worked with them individually, and when I pulled out my guitar from its case, the patient became extremely agitated and withdrawn. I had a feeling that my guitar triggered some memories and emotions, and I put the guitar away. Later I found out from a social worker that the patient had been beaten by their stepfather with a guitar and that using my guitar would not be useful in therapy. I learned that it was important to find out those details before starting a new session with a patient."

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How to Answer: Describe a session plan that did not go well. Why was it not successful and what did you learn from it?

Advice and answer examples written specifically for a Music Therapist job interview.

3. Describe a session plan that did not go well. Why was it not successful and what did you learn from it?

How to Answer

There may be times when music therapy sessions do not go well. The patient may be nonverbal or low functioning, and you might not be able to tell if therapy is working for them. Or, there might be a patient who does not participate or becomes agitated with a particular song. The interviewer wants to see that you realize when a session does not go well and how you problem solve and learn from the experience. Describe a time a session did not go well and what you learned from it.

Written by Krista Wenz on November 7th, 2021

Answer Example

"I had a session with a teenage patient who had suffered horrible abuse when they were younger. I worked with them individually, and when I pulled out my guitar from its case, the patient became extremely agitated and withdrawn. I had a feeling that my guitar triggered some memories and emotions, and I put the guitar away. Later I found out from a social worker that the patient had been beaten by their stepfather with a guitar and that using my guitar would not be useful in therapy. I learned that it was important to find out those details before starting a new session with a patient."

Written by Krista Wenz on November 7th, 2021

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