abstract: ABSTRACT A survey of board-certified music therapists who identified themselves as self-employed was conducted to examine current methods of marketing related to planning, positioning, promotion, and implementation within a music therapy private practice or contracting model, as well as identify trends in marketing methods as compared to prior research. Respondents (n=273) provided data via online survey as to current marketing practices, assessment of personal marketing skills, and views on marketing's overall role in their businesses. Historical, qualitative, and quantitative distinctions were developed through statistical analysis as to the relationship between respondents' views and current marketing practices. Results show that self-employed music therapists agree marketing is a vital part of their business and that creating a unique brand identity is necessary to differentiate oneself from the competition. A positive correlation was identified between those who are confident in their marketing skills and the dollar amount of rates charged for services. Presentations, websites, and networking were regarded as the top marketing vehicles currently used to garner new business, with a trend towards increased use of social media as a potential marketing avenue. Challenges for respondents appear to include the creation and implementation of written marketing plans and maintaining measurable marketing objectives. Barriers to implementation may include confidence in personal marketing skills, time required, and financial constraints. The majority of respondents agreed that taking an 8-hour CMTE course regarding marketing methods for self-employed music therapists would be beneficial. / Dissertation/Thesis / M.M. Music Therapy 2014

Submitted diploma thesis deals with the topic of Marketing in Occupational Therapy. The work is divided into theoretical and practical part. The theoretical part is focused on two main areas - Marketing and Occupational Therapy. The first part is focused on the familiarization with this field. The second part is devoted to marketing, where its general level to specific characteristic rising from the health care are described. The practical part offers the introduction of Children's Rehabilitation Centre Lentilka, where the questionnaire research based on the charting of satisfaction and evaluation of the occupational therapy service by parents of the occupational therapy clients took place. There was also conducted the quantitative study in the form of questionnaire research among doctors of specific specialism working in the region of Pardubice. This questionnaire research among doctors was concentrated on the charting of the foreknowledge in the occupational therapy field and its possibilities. Based on the analysis of the actual condition of the occupational therapy propagation and doctors' necessity to better understand the field, there are proposals for improving the marketing and promotion of occupational therapy in the Czech Republic. Those proposals are primarily focused on the professional...