The Canadian Association for Music Therapy (CAMT) and College of Registered Psychotherapist of Ontario (CPRO) require all members to practice Safe and Effective Use of Self (SEUS). What does that mean exactly? Well… SEUS is defined by CRPO as, “the therapist’s learned capacity to understand his or her own subjective context and patterns of interaction as they inform his or her participation in the therapeutic relationship with the client. It also speaks to the therapist’s self-reflective use of his or her personality, insights, perceptions, and judgments in order to optimize interactions with clients in the therapeutic process.”
It is important for Accredited Music Therapists (MTA) and Registered Psychotherapists (RP) to actively practice SEUS so we become aware what we are bringing into the session, whether it is from personal or professional domains in our lives.
To ensure maintenance of SEUS while providing music therapy services to the Kingston area I have attended personal psychotherapy sessions from May 2015 – March 2016. Since June 2016, I’ve been attending monthly group supervision sessions with other MTA’s and RP’s in the area. These sessions have addressed topics such as: personal history, family dynamics, anti-oppression and diversity, power dynamics, relational boundaries, experiential practice as client, or interpersonal relationship development.
To learn more about Safe and Effective Use of Self please visit the “College of Registered Psychotherapist of Ontario” Website: http://www.crpo.ca/home/info-for-applicants/definitions/