Music Therapy and Counseling with Mixed-Race Populations: A Literature Review

Multiracial individuals currently make up 10.3% of the United States population. While there are a few biracial identity development models in existence, there are currently no music therapy models or music therapy literature that involves work with mixed-race populations. This critical literature review examines various biracial and multiracial literature to outline the diverse and unique mixed-race experience. Music therapy research, literature, and methods that explore identity development and sense of self are also examined. While music therapy has been shown to help support identity development and self-actualization, there is a lack of qualitative and quantitative research. The literature presented indicates that music therapy can help facilitate healthy identity development in mixed-race populations. This critical literature review provides the foundation for a method that can integrate biracial identity development with music therapy. Further research needs to be done before a full understanding of how music therapy can be used in context of counseling mixed populations