Abstract
This systematic review examined existing research to answer the research question: how does music therapy affect academic supports in adolescents diagnosed with emotional and behavioral disorder? “Academic supports” will be operationalized through social skills, community involvement, and academic performance. Upon thorough review of the present literature, nine articles met criteria. Common themes identified throughout the reviewed articles include improved social functioning, improved self-esteem and self-expression, group music therapy, improvisational music therapy, and lack of research. Findings conclude that further research is needed to identify if music therapy has an effect on community involvement and academic performance within adolescents diagnosed EBD. In the area of social functioning, music therapy is shown to have a positive affect on social competencies of adolescents with EBD. However, the existing literature is not robust enough to create an evidence base for music therapy used as a treatment intervention among the population of adolescents with EBD.