Analytical music therapy and the musical Response

Journal/Book: Musiktherapeutische Umschau. 1980; 1: STUTTGART. G. Fischer Verlag. 21-36.

Abstract: In her article "Analytical Music Therapy and the Musical Response" the author describes the symbolic use of improvised music as it is used by the therapist and client to explore the client's inner life. The guided expression of the music allows the client to reduce the force of his resistance against denied or split-off emotion in order to experience memories and inner images which may come up in the improvisation. As, within their musicmaking, therapist and client respond to one another at a deep and mysterious level, counter-transference is found to be a useful tool for exploring the client's unconscious. However, the music therapist has himself to have experienced the power of counter-transference in his own analytical training before he can use it in work with patients. The training therapist has to learn to improvise in a way that will produce a meaningful response in the client, and this can develop naturally in the particular climate of the "Intertherapy" training. The client's musical response can bring to light a side of his inner life which is blocked from revealing itself in the verbal exchange. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED)

Keyword(s): Improvised-music, counter-transference, musical-response.

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