Nurturing the dialogue between intra and inter dimensions of music therapy training and practice

Abstract

Background: As part of an MA in Music Therapy, three professional Italian music therapists each recently undertook an in-depth microanalysis of a documented moment in their own clinical work. Two of the studies consisted of an analysis of musical inter-relational moments within active music therapy (one in paediatric oncology, the other in adult disability), the third focused on a heuristic study within receptive methodology. These studies represented an intense intra-personal exploration into the micro-dimensions of musical therapeutic dynamics between therapist and client.Objective: The three microanalyses have been used as a meta tool within a guided group training context, to further develop clinical awareness and sustain the valuable dialogue between intra- and inter-personal experience for continuing professional development.Methods: During a 10 month process of shared reflective supervision coordinated by a fourth music therapist, the colleagues pooled, discussed and explored their individual micro...