Research in Creative Music Therapy - an illustration of research in practice with the Case of a Male Neurotic Client

Author(s): Smeijsters, H.

Abstract: The paper contains two sections. The first is about the case of a young man who came into music therapy with feelings of doubt and panic. The music therapist will give a short description of the process of music therapy. In the first phase of the music therapy the therapist worked with the client to lower his high level of aspiration. In an experimental music improvisation the client learned to give up his standards, try out new behaviour and not be afraid of musical closeness with the music therapist. After the first phase there followed a second phase where the client could develop his own musical identity. His role in improvisation became very important. At this moment in music therapy he could also work with feelings. The client did choose them as a theme for improvising and in changing instruments he symbolically worked through feelings of grief, sadness and aggression. The whole treatment was a 'research project in practice' of the Music Therapy Laboratory where music therapist and researcher work closely together in diagnosing, choosing aims and treatment procedures and reflecting effects of music therapy. The second part of the paper will analyse the way in which music therapist and researcher worked together. The researcher will present a methodology of research in practice, without experimental conditions, where research has at least two functions: to analyse the process of music therapy with the intention to find principles and techniques when working with one sort of problem, and to be of help in the treatment with a special client. This paper will be published by the BSMT later in l992, price on application.

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Keyword(s): Research, creative-music-therapy, research-methodology.

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