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Page 32
Volume 3
Psychology 2019
July 31-August 01, 2019
Journal of Clinical Psychology and Cognitive Science
July 31-August 01, 2019 | Amsterdam, Netherlands
PSYCHOLOGY AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE
22
nd
World Congress on
Clin Psychol Cog Sci, Volume 3
Hip-Hop Therapy: An approach to working with young offenders with severe mental
health conditions
Kim Dilati
Forensic Hospital Sydney, Australia
R
ap music is one of the most popular forms of music among youth (Dyson, 1996). Rap music emerged over four decades ago
as a struggle for self-determination following North American slavery and oppression. The Hip-Hop culture was founded on
this adversity and illustrates a form of social protest, promoting messages of social awareness, personal consciousness, activism,
pleasure and power (Miller et al., 2013). As such the lyrical content of rap music has widely focused on social issues, drug use,
crime, violence, religion, culture, alienation and disenfranchisement. Research to date has supported the therapeutic efficacy of
rap music for at-risk young adults (Levy, 2012; Alvarez, 2011; Elligan, 2000). Although, Hip-Hop Therapy is a relatively novel
and unconventional mode of therapy for young people, engagement with rap music programs have found to be increasingly
high compared to Treatment as Usual (TAU; Elligan, 2000). As such, Hip-Hop therapy remains an effective but underutilized
treatment approach targeting at-risk youth and currently, there are few similar programs in the community or correctional settings
in Australia. The Rhythm & Rhymes Adolescent/Adult Program (RRAP) or Hip-Hop therapy, is a therapeutic group program for
young and adult offenders with severe mental health disorders. The objectives of the group were to use rap music and song writing
to increase prosocial activities, facilitate positive behaviour change, increase engagement in therapeutic programs, improve
coping skills, depression, anxiety and hopelessness in young people with severe mental health disorders. Forty adolescent and
adult patients from a high secure Forensic Hospital in Sydney, Australia completed a voluntary 12-week Hip-Hop Therapy group.
A mixed methods study design was utilised. Pre and post group measures were collected, individual lyrics were qualitatively
analysed and post group interviews were conducted.
Results found that there were improvements in prosocial behaviours, engagement in therapy, depression, coping skills, anxiety
and hopelessness. Overall, this study illustrates how rap music has the potential to promote prosocial behaviour, increase
engagement in treatment, improve empowerment, self-efficacy and distress tolerance skills in correctional and forensic settings.