Developing a Culturally Adaptive Model of Music Therapy Supervision for Nigerian Clinical Practice

This research develops an original, culturally adaptive model of music therapy supervision specifically designed for Nigerian clinical practice contexts. As music therapy slowly establishes itself as a recognised health profession in Nigeria, the absence of culturally appropriate supervision frameworks represents a significant barrier to practitioner development, ethical practice, and professional sustainability. Existing supervision models are derived almost entirely from Western clinical psychology and psychotherapy traditions, which do not adequately account for the communal therapeutic relationships, spiritual dimensions of healing, and hierarchical professional dynamics characteristic of Nigerian healthcare and cultural contexts. This study employs a qualitative research design in three phases: an extensive literature synthesis reviewing international supervision models and African helping relationship scholarship; a phenomenological interview study with 15 Nigerian music therapists, 10 experienced clinical supervisors from related helping professions, and 10 senior traditional healers; and a collaborative design workshop with key stakeholders to co-construct supervision model components. Grounded theory methodology is applied across phases. The resulting model is subjected to validity testing through expert review using a structured evaluation instrument. The study makes an original contribution to music therapy education, clinical supervision theory, and the globalisation of helping professions through culturally adaptive professional frameworks. Keywords: Music therapy supervision, clinical training, cultural adaptation, Nigeria, professional development.