I had the privilege of working under Dr. Patricia Winter and my PI, Jennifer Townsend, this summer with the Center for Performing Arts Medicine. Music therapy is the clinical use of music interventions by a credentialed professional to improve a person’s emotional and physical health. While known for easing subjective measures like anxiety and pain, it is a powerful tool that drives physiological improvements in metrics such as vital lung capacity and respiratory rate. My research this summer was a qualitative study exploring how Board-Certified Music Therapists (MT-BCs) make clinical decisions when working with patients with respiratory conditions and addressing respiratory goals. Through this, I mapped out the core components of their practice and decision-making process. The ultimate goal of this research is to create standardized guidelines for MT-BCs working with this population, which will increase patient access to this impactful care while also improving the quality of care they receive.