Dissertation - World Federation of Music Therapy

the healing process and was a contribution to how PIJØ could easier talk about her
situation: “I had cancer in a part of my body that is not so easy to talk about. [Has it
become easier for you to talk about it?] Well, people tell me that ‘It is easy to talk
with you about it.’”
A very important outcome of PIJØs process was that she experienced how facing the
problems enabled a fundamental change in attitude. This was the most important
experience of the BMGIM process for her: “It is possible to change. Even if life is bad
something can change into something positive. Even if there were a lot of bad things,
there were also a lot of good things, lots of good images and plenty of hope, keeping
the process on the track (…) To me it is about being here-and-now, just looking out of
the window. The feeling it gives me to look out of the window and see everything
burst [in spring]. I am filled with joy when I walk in the woods. I experience things
more intensely now, luckily also the positive things.”
Analysis of the music-assisted imagery: core metaphors and image configuration,
including the participant’s own interpretations
This analysis investigates if it is possible to identify the three levels of metaphors
defined in chapter 3 (based on Bonde 2000) in PIJØs imagery and its development
through the sessions. The three levels are:
1) The narrative episode, configured around a core metaphor
2) The narrative configuration of the self
3) The complete narrative
Level 1
A core metaphor is based on a specific image that highlights an important problem
area, either as a metaphor of the problem itself or an element of the problem and its
solution. The images on which the metaphors are based are often included in the
mandala (if present), another way to identify them is to examine postlude notes, and
of course to ask the client what stands out for him or her at a certain point in time.
Based on the session transcripts, including the postlude notes and the mandalas I used
the interview to discuss selected metaphors with PIJØ, and I encouraged her to talk
about the images that she recalled as special or important. Table 7.1 is a presentation
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