Symbol and structure: Music therapy for the adolescent psychiatric inpatient

Journal/Book: Music Therapy. 1990; 9: Philadelphia, PA, USA. American Association for Music Therapy. 16-34.

Abstract: Music therapy is a modality well-suited to the adolescent psychiatric inpatient population. The symbolic and structural nature of music provides patients with a unique framework in which both intrapersonal phenomena and interpersonal experiences can be expressed and explored. This article focuses specifically on the ability of music therapy to assist these patients in the development of ego strength, identity formation, and impulse control. Theoretical concepts in which the symbolic and structural aspects of music serve as the primary tools available to the music therapist for facilitating growth and change are presented. Important symbolic and structural elements of the musical activities, the session's verbal content, and the therapeutic relationship are analyzed as they relate specifically to the needs of this population. The author's exploration is based upon psychoanalytic perspectives of personality development and pathology; the stages of ego development, and the concepts of identify crisis, transitional phenomena and peer group relevance. ABSTRACT 2: Explores the ability of music therapy to assist adolescent psychiatric inpatients in the development of ego strength, identity formation, and impulse control. Important symbolic and structural elements of the musical activities, the session's verbal content, and the therapeutic relationship are analyzed as they relate specifically to the needs of this population. The author's exploration is based on psychoanalytic perspectives of personality development and pathology: the stages of ego development, and the concepts of identity crisis, transitional phenomena, and peer group relevance. Case illustrations from the author's work experience with 5 patients (aged 12-18 yrs) are presented to demonstrate patients' utilization of symbol and structure and to exemplify the author's theoretical orientation.

Note: music therapy; ego strength & identity formation & impulse control; adolescent

Keyword(s): Music therapy; psychiatric patients; ego development; self concept; hospitalized patients; adolescence. music-therapy, adolescent, psychiatric, psychiatric-patient, hospitalized.

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