Assessing the development of the Music Therapy Association of British Columbia (MTABC) as a professional association in the context of music therapy professionalization

The emerging profession of music therapy recognizes the power of music as a vehicle to inspire and empower, to create connectedness to the self and others and to build community through the use of the common universal language of music. The Music Therapy Association of British Columbia (MTABC) seeks to assess its development as a professional association in the context of music therapy professionalization. Its aim is to increase membership and membership participation, to provide more services and support to members, and to promote the field of music therapy within British Columbia. Through an appreciative inquiry approach this project examines how the MTABC could develop as a professional association within an emerging profession, and also examines the potential to offer further collaborative professionalization opportunities to benefit music therapists. The potential exists for the MTABC to raise both the public and professional profile of music therapists within British Columbia and Canada.