Beyond limitations : the emergence of a musical relationship between a music therapy intern and a geriatric client diagnosed with schizophrenia

Abstract

This dissertation explores the emerging musical relationship between myself as a music therapy intern and a geriatric client diagnosed with schizophrenia residing in a psychiatric institution at which I worked during the first six months of my clinical training. Two specific areas of focus are addressed, namely the characteristics of the developing musical relationship and the strategies employed by the music therapy intern to enable its optimal development. Three excerpts, either audio or video recordings, were selected from the clinical material for analysis. The excerpts (numbered Excerpt A, B and C) were selected based on their demonstration of the emerging musical relationship between the client and myself. Corresponding written session notes also formed part of the clinical material that had to be analysed. The clinical material was coded and categorised, resulting in emerging themes being identified for interpretation in relation to the specific areas of focus of the clinical enquiry. The findings reveal that the musical relationship developed from isolation and a high degree of non-responsiveness between the client and myself in Excerpt A towards moments of musical intersubjective relating in Excerpt C. Strategies employed by me include, inter alia, providing stability, predictability, simplicity and consistency in my musical input and progressing towards incorporating improvisations within a familiar musical structure, thus an increased flexible approach. These findings are important in light of the limited literature available regarding music therapy work conducted by interns, especially during the early stages of their clinical work.