This article presents the results from a critical interpretive synthesis that examined the prevalence and presentation of therapeutic boundary themes in music therapy case studies. Conventional boundary theories are often defined as the parameters of practice that encourage the clinician to perform boundary processes in a certain way. These theories pertain to practical and interpersonal elements when negotiating the therapeutic relationship and include features such as boundary crossings and boundary violations. A carefully selected set of case studies were examined and interrogated to determine the presence and type of boundary themes. These were analysed by distilling narrative descriptions from the case studies and comparing them with information about population, age of clients, theoretical approach and cultural setting. Musical intimacy emerged from the analysis as a concept that contained a myriad of boundary challenges, which often appeared to contrast conventional ideas on boundaries. The results of this critical interpretive synthesis are discussed along with recommendations for music therapy practice.
AllenM (2010) Boundaries in psychotherapy: Therapist negotiation styles. Doctoral dissertation, Alliant International University, San Diego, CA. Retrieved from PsycINFO (2012-99060-200).
2.
AnnandaleEHarveyJCaversD. (2007) Gender and access to healthcare in the UK: A critical interpretive synthesis of the literature. Evidence & Policy3: 463–486 (Retrieved from SocINDEX).
AnsdellG (2010) Can everything become music? Scrap metal in Southern England. In: StigeBAnsdellGElefantC. (eds) Where Music Helps: Community Music Therapy in Action and Reflection. Surrey: Ashgate, pp. 151–160.
5.
AustinJ (1999) Many stories, many songs. In: HibbenJ (ed.) Inside Music Therapy: Client Perspectives. Barcelona: Barcelona Publishers, pp. 119–128.
6.
BakerF (2011) Facilitating neurological reorganization through music therapy: A case of modified melodic intonation therapy in the treatment of a person with aphasia. In: MeadowsA (ed.) Collected Work: Developments in music therapy practice: Case study perspectives. Gilsum, Barcelona Publishers, pp. 280–296.
7.
BolgerL (2012) Music therapy and international development in action and reflection: A case study of a women’s music group in rural Bangladesh. Australian Journal of Music Therapy23: 22–40.
8.
Bruggen-RufiMVinkA (2011) Home is where the heart is. In: MeadowsA (ed.) Collected Work: Developments in Music Therapy Practice: Case Study Perspectives. Gilsum: Barcelona Publishers, pp. 569–581.
9.
BrusciaK (2014) Defining Music Therapy. Barcelona: Barcelona Publishers.
10.
CoeJ (2008) Being clear about boundaries. Healthcare Counselling & Psychotherapy Journal8(1): 11–15 (Retrieved from ebscohost).
11.
ConstantineMGKwanK-LK (2003) Cross-cultural considerations of therapist self-disclosure. Journal of Clinical Psychology59(5): 581–588.
12.
CroweB (2011) Establishing communication with a boy with autism utilizing recorded music. In: MeadowsA (ed.) Collected Work: Developments in Music Therapy Practice: Case Study Perspectives. Gilsum: Barcelona Publishers, pp. 119–133.
13.
DileoC (2000) Ethical Thinking in Music Therapy. Cherry Hill, NJ: Jeffery Books.
14.
Dixon-WoodsMCaversDAgarwalS. (2006) Conducting a critical interpretive synthesis of the literature on access to healthcare by vulnerable groups. BMC Medical Research Methodology6: 35.
15.
DrauckerCBMartsolfDSRossR. (2007) Theoretical sampling and category development in grounded theory. Qualitative Health Research17(8): 1137–1148.
16.
EdwardsJKennellyJ (2011) Music therapy for children in hospital care: A stress and coping framework for practice. In: MeadowsA (ed.) Collected Work: Developments in Music Therapy Practice: Case Study Perspectives. Gilsum: Barcelona Publishers, pp. 150–165.
17.
ElefantC (2011) Unraveling hidden resources of a girl with Rett syndrome. In: MeadowsA (ed.) Collected Work: Developments in Music Therapy Practice: Case Study Perspectives. Gilsum, Barcelona Publishers, pp. 86–103.
18.
FlemmingK (2010) Synthesis of quantitative and qualitative research: An example using Critical Interpretive Synthesis. Journal of Advanced Nursing66(1): 201–217.
19.
ForinashMMcKnightS (1999) Rose. In: HibbenJ (ed.) Inside Music Therapy: Client Perspectives. Gilsum: Barcelona Publishers, pp. 191–198.
20.
ForsblomAAla-RuonaE (2012) Professional competences of music therapists working in post-stroke rehabilitation. Voices: A World Forum for Music Therapy12(3) (Retrieved from RILM).
21.
FosterN (2007) ‘Why can’t we be friends?’ An exploration of the concept of ‘friendship’ within client–music therapist relationships. British Journal of Music Therapy21(1): 12–22 (Retrieved from RILM).
22.
FronekPKendallMUngererG. (2009) Towards healthy professional-client relationships: The value of an interprofessional training course. Journal of Interprofessional Care23(1): 16–29.
GlaserBGStraussAL (1967) The Discovery of Grounded Theory: Strategies for Qualitative Research. London: Wiedenfeld & Nicholson.
25.
GutheilTG (2008) Preventing Boundary Violations in Clinical Practice. New York, NY: Guilford Publications.
26.
GutheilTGGabbardGO (1993) The concept of boundaries in clinical practice: Theoretical and risk-management dimensions. American Journal of Psychiatry150: 188–196.
27.
GutheilTGGabbardGO (1998). Misuses and misunderstandings of boundary theory in clinical and regulatory settings. American Journal of Psychiatry155(3): 409–414.
28.
HibbenJ (1999) Inside Music Therapy: Client Experiences. Gilsum: Barcelona Publishers.
29.
LoewyJQuentzelS (2011) The case of Paula: Music psychotherapy with a musician. In: MeadowsA (ed.) Collected Work: Developments in Music Therapy Practice: Case Study Perspectives. Gilsum: Barcelona Publishers, pp. 297–312.
30.
LogisMTurryA (1999) Singing my way through it: Facing the cancer, the darkenss, and the fear. In: HibbenJ (ed.) Inside Music Therapy: Client Perspectives. Barcelona: Barcelona Publishers, pp. 97–118
31.
McFerranKGarridoSSaarikallioS (2014) A Critical Interpretive Synthesis of the Literature Linking Music and Adolescent Mental Health. Youth Society46(2): 103–121.
32.
MahnsW (2003) Speaking without talking: Fifty analytical music therapy sessions with a boy with selective mutism. In: HadleyS (ed.) Psychodynamic Music Therapy: Case Studies. Gilsum: Barcelona Publishers, pp. 87–104.
33.
MeadowsA (2011) Developments in Music Therapy Practice: Case Study Perspectives. Gilsum: Barcelona Publishers.
34.
MoleskiSMKiselicaMS (2005) Dual relationships: A continuum ranging from the destructive to the therapeutic. Journal of Counseling and Development83(1): 3–11.
35.
NirenszteinSK (2003) The knight inside the armor: Music therapy with a deprived teenager. In: HadleyS (ed.) Psychodynamic Music Therapy: Case Studies. Gilsum: Barcelona publishers, pp. 225–241.
36.
Nöcker-RibaupierreM (2011) When life begins too early: Music therapy in a newborn intensive care unit. In: MeadowsA (ed.) Collected Work: Developments in Music Therapy Practice: Case Study Perspectives. Gilsum: Barcelona Publishers, pp. 30–48.
37.
O’GradyLMcFerranK (2007) Community music therapy and its relationship to community music: Where does it end?Nordic Journal of Music Therapy16(1): 14–26.
38.
PattonMQ (1990) Qualitative Evaluation and Research Methods, 2nd edn.Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE.
39.
PavlicevicMQ (2010) Because it’s cool: Community music therapy in Heideveld, South Africa. In: StigeBAnsdellGElefantC. (eds) Where Music Helps: Community Music Therapy in Action and Reflection. Surrey: Ashgate, pp. 93–98.
40.
PopeKSKeith-SpiegelP (2008) A practical approach to boundaries in psychotherapy: Making decisions, bypassing blunders, and mending fences. Journal of Clinical Psychology64(5): 638–652.
41.
ReamerFG (2003) Boundary issues in social work: Managing dual relationships. Social Work48(1): 121–133.
42.
RogersPJ (2003) Working with Jenny: Stories of gender, power and abuse. In: HadleyS (ed.) Psychodynamic Music Therapy: Case Studies. Gilsum: Barcelona Publishers, pp. 183–195.
43.
RolvsjordRJ (2010) Resource-Oriented Music Therapy in Mental Health Care. Gilsum: Barcelona Publishers.
44.
SchneiderEPattersonPP (2010) You’ve got that magic touch: Integrating the sense of touch into early childhood services. Young Exceptional Children13(5): 17–27.
45.
SchwandtTA (2001) Dictionary of Qualitative Inquiry. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE.
46.
SchwartzE (2011) Growing up in music: A journey through early childhood music development in music therapy. In: MeadowsA (ed.) Collected Work: Developments in Music Therapy Practice: Case Study Perspectives. Gilsum: Barcelona Publishers, pp. 70–85.
47.
StigeBAnsdellGElefantC. (2010) Where music helps: Community music therapy in action and reflection. Burlington, VT: Ashgate.
48.
StigeB (2010) Society for all? The cultural festival in Sogn og Fjordane, Norway. In: StigeBAnsdellGElefantC. (eds) Where Music Helps: Community Music Therapy in Action and Reflection. Surrey: Ashgate, pp. 115–124.
49.
StraussAL (1987) Qualitative Analysis for Social Scientists. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
50.
SweeneyC (2003) Couldn’t put humpty together again. In: HadleyS (ed.) Psychodynamic Music Therapy: Case Studies. Gilsum: Barcelona Publishers, pp. 23–37.
51.
TylerHM (2003) Being Beverly: Music therapy with a troubled eight year old girl. In: HadleyS (ed.) Psychodynamic Music Therapy: Case Studies. Gilsum: Barcelona Publishers, pp. 53–73.
52.
WheelerBL (2014) Music Therapy Handbook. New York, NY: Guilford.
