Verbal Dialogue in Music Therapy: A Hermeneutical Analysis of Three Music Therapy Sessions
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15845/voices.v16i1.842Keywords:
music therapy, music, verbal dialogue in therapy, methodology in professional dialogues, present moment, hermeneuticsAbstract
Verbal dialogue is often a main component of music therapy sessions, however, it is seldom discussed in the music therapy literature. This qualitative study examined three music therapy sessions arranged especially for research purposes. Video recordings of these sessions were analysed as well as interviews with the music therapists conducting the sessions. Specific verbal interventions used during the sessions included: questions, repetition and other types of commenting phrases, silence, paradoxes and rephrasings, symbolic language and interpretations. The functions of the verbal techniques are grouped under three thematic headings: to establish trust between client and therapist; to deepen the experience of the present moment; and to clarify some aspect of the client’s life story. Considering that verbal dialogue is so seldom discussed in the music therapy literature, this study aims to provide a contribution to the development of methodology by shedding light upon this topic.Downloads
Published
2016-02-09
How to Cite
Lindblad, K. (2016). Verbal Dialogue in Music Therapy: A Hermeneutical Analysis of Three Music Therapy Sessions. Voices: A World Forum for Music Therapy, 16(1). https://doi.org/10.15845/voices.v16i1.842
Issue
Section
Reflections on Practice
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