Synopses & Reviews
In perceiving all rap and hip-hop music as violent, misogynistic, and sexually charged, are we denying the way in which it is attentive to the lived experiences, both positive and negative, of many therapy clients? This question is explored in great depth in this anthology, the first to examine the use of this musical genre in the therapeutic context. The contributors are all experienced therapists who examine the multiple ways that rap and hip-hop can be used in therapy by listening and discussing, performing, creating, or improvising.
The text is divided into three sections that explore the historical and theoretical perspectives of rap and hip-hop in therapy, describe the first-hand experiences of using the music with at-risk youth, and discuss the ways in which contributors have used rap and hip-hop with clients with specific diagnoses, respectively.
Within these sections, the contributors provide rationale for the use of rap and hip-hop in therapy and encourage therapists to validate the experiences for those for whom rap music is a significant mode of expression. Editors Susan Hadley and George Yancy go beyond promoting culturally competent therapy to creating a paradigm shift in the field, one that speaks to the problematic ways in which rap and hip-hop have been dismissed as expressive of meaningless violence and of little social value. More than providing tools to incorporate rap into therapy, this text enhances the therapist's cultural and professional repertoire.
Synopsis
Therapeutic Uses of Rap and Hip-Hop is the first anthology to examine the use of rap and hip-hop in the therapeutic context. It provides a rationale for their use in therapy and encourages therapists to validate rap music 's value as a therapeutic tool, by extension validating the experiences of those for whom rap music is a significant mode of expression. The contributors introduce a more complex understanding of the ways in which rap and hip hop are attentive to the lived experiences (both positive and negative) of many therapy clients and how this aspect of music is helpful within the therapeutic context. Each contributor provides the theoretical context in which they work and bring in case examples of the ways in which rap and hip hop have benefited the growth and well-being of their clients.
Synopsis
Therapeutic Uses of Rap Hip-Hop introduces a more complex understanding of the ways in which rap and hip-hop is attentive to the live experiences (both positive and negative) of many therapy clients.