Role Limits in Music Therapy

Abstract

Often through the course of work with a patient, issues arise which challenge one's role as a music therapist, and which lead one to question the limits of the experiences being offered to the patient. In this paper I describe my work with a woman who initially avoided and resisted shared music-making, and who gradually became more able to be involved in spontaneous activity. I tried to find ways of understanding the issues at the root of our relationship, in order to build on the musical interactions. From this case, I intend to illustrate the deeper questions which, I believe, are pertinent to be asked more generally about the limitations attending the role of the music therapist.