Music Therapy Research and the Mental Health--Well-Being Continuum.

Research interests in the spectrum of mental illness through to well-being are explored across a 30-year trajectory. Case studies are shown to be fertile breeding grounds for more extensive research studies comprising quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods research designs. As services for those with severe mental illness have moved into the community, changes in philosophy of treatment and therapy have been required and these are explained. As mental illness affects 20% of Australians, this area of music therapy practice remains of principal concern. In addition, the search for healing and enhanced meaning of life requires psychotherapeutic practices that allow for changes in intrapersonal and interpersonal growth, and receptive music therapy methods, specifically the Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music, is shown to be one of the effective music psychotherapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]