Assessing the Benefit of Art & Music Therapy on Quality of Life in Patients With Breast Cancer

"The art therapist will assist each participant in producing a bound collection of participant art works/writings for personal, group and/or caregiver inspiration, at the participant's request. For in-person sessions, a variety of studio-based art and writing materials will be available for participant selection and creation. Each session will be directed in the following manner:~* New therapeutic prompt or bridge from prior session~* Creative expression, opportunity for reflection, verbal sharing / processing, and a session summary~* Discussion of action plan for the next consecutive, at-home session (weekly assignment).~Possible wellness themes for each session (in-person or at-home) may include: mental health, physical health, emotional health, spiritual health, relational health (family and social), or occupational health/financial health."

"Participants have the opportunity to engage in: learning an instrument, active music-making, receptive music-listening, singing, improvisation, song-writing, education on music technology, or music discussion. During in-person musical sessions the six psychosocial goals promoted by the music therapist include: 1) self-care/self-love, 2) support systems, 3) practicing positivity 4) gratitude 5) mindfulness/living in the moment, and 6) goal-setting.~For at-home assignments, participants will be asked to pick a song of the week that coincides with the theme/goal discussed in previous session(s). They will be asked to write a journal entry about the topic discussed. Journal entries can be freely written or a prompt/question can be provided. If participants do not have access to search for songs or listen to music as at home, they may select a piece from the session and be given lyrics and/or a recording on an .mp3 player returned at conclusion of study."