Evaluating the RAP...SEC framework in music therapy education: student and graduate perspectives

This presentation shares findings from a mixed-methods study evaluating the Referral, Assessment, Planning...Sessions, Evaluation, Closure (RAP...SEC) framework, an andragogical model developed within the MusicTherapy@Western initiative at Western Sydney University. RAP...SEC is grounded in principles of adult learning and practice-based education. It scaffolds reflective practice and therapeutic reasoning and supports students in understanding and designing music therapy applications for diverse therapeutic contexts. While embedded in subject design and assessment, the framework had not been formally evaluated until this study. This study explored how current students and recent graduates comprehended, applied, and experienced professional alignment with RAP...SEC. Data was collected via an anonymous online survey and follow-up focus groups. Quantitative responses were analysed descriptively, while qualitative data were examined thematically using Braun and Clarke’s six-phase approach . Findings suggest that RAP...SEC contributes to the development of students’ professional identity and reflective capability, aligning with Schön’s conception of the reflective practitioner. Participants described the framework as a structured yet adaptable lens through which to interpret the therapeutic process. It was seen to enhance students’ capacity to plan, evaluate, and respond within practice with integrity and flexibility. Respondents also noted the framework’s alignment with the AMTA Professional Standards for Music Therapy, particularly those elements related to planning and evaluation. By illuminating how a structured andragogical model can foster authentic learning, this research offers timely insights for the music therapy education community. Findings underscore the importance of curriculum approaches that bridge student experience with professional standards, reinforcing the value of education frameworks that prepare RMTs to practice with integrity, adaptability, and reflective clarity. In doing so, this work contributes to the profession’s ongoing impact and innovation, and celebrates the evolution of music therapy education in concert with the celebration of AMTA’s 50-year milestone.