Dissertation - World Federation of Music Therapy

As you will see there are many common features between this personal journey of a
man who describes himself as an “exceptional cancer patient” (referring to B. Siegel’s
distinction) and the experiences of six women presented in this study. Rasmussen
used several complementary therapies (acupuncture, diet, massage and healing) but
not music therapy. I agree with Rasmussen when he writes that it may not be so
important exactly what complementary therapy a cancer patient may choose – the
important factor is to take responsibility for one’s own process, including the choice
of complementary therapies that may suit the patient as a unique person confronted
with a life-threatening disease. The six women in this study chose music therapy
(among other modalities). The purpose of this study is not to argue that music therapy
is superior to other therapeutic modalities, but to show how the six women used the
BMGIM therapy to address issues of great personal importance: anxiety, depression,
and quality of life. All six experienced a change in their life perspective, in many
ways similar to the development of new “life values” described by Rasmussen. A
Danish proverb describes a very important premise for change: “The will to change is
evoked when the security of old pains is no longer enough”. This theme goes through
the study as a red line.
Overview of the thesis
This Ph.D. research was originally planned as a combination of a smaller, original
study – BMGIM with cancer survivors – and related, selected publications in peer
reviewed articles and published books. During the writing process I increasingly felt
that it was necessary to integrate the earlier publications, as well as new essays and
book chapters written in relation to the study, in order to make the text more coherent
and fluent. The decision of doing this has made the dissertation more comprehensive
than planned, but I hope it will make it easier to read.
After a short chapter 1 introducing the background of the study, chapters 2 and 3
provide an overview of the literature. Chapter 2 introduces the specific literature on
music therapy and BMGIM in oncology, while chapter 3 is a broader introduction to
and discussion of literature on meaning in music, with specific focus on the role of
2