First Love – An Idealized Object in Music Therapy

Abstract

Therapy often involves the development of an intimate therapeutic relationship between the client and the therapist. By introducing the story of Hyun in music therapy, I invite readers to discover what happens during mutual music making process and what it means to the child and the therapist. I also situate this story within a triadic relationship – the child, the therapist and the family (especially the mother) so that one can see a comprehensive picture of how the happenings of music therapy relate to immediate outside world of music therapy, and vice versa. More importantly, I try to show the inner workings of the therapist and her wonderings in response to the client in order to clarify the core aspects of therapeutic process.