Behind the Mask: An Exploration of the True and False Self as Revealed in Music Therapy

Abstract

This article looks at the concept of the True and False Self (Winnicott 1960, Laing 1960) and relates it to case material of music therapy with two children who were diagnosed as being on the autistic continuum. At the beginning of the therapy, both children showed great difficulty in expressing themselves spontaneously or creatively, resorting instead to rigid and stereotyped responses. Attempts to involve either child in shared musical improvisation were met with what I shall refer to as a musical False Self, or persona, which was used as a grandiose or omnipotent defence to protect the vulnerable True Self. I will show how it was necessary to accept and to work first with this musical False Self before the True Self could begin to emerge, spontaneously, creatively and authentically.