Dissertation - World Federation of Music Therapy

other types of psychotherapy or complementary therapies before they entered
BMGIM: verbal psychotherapy, visualization, meditation, and healing were
mentioned. Some of them also attended other therapies in the project period, including
verbal psychotherapy (with a psychologist) and/or meditation. Physiotherapy was also
mentioned as a treatment modality.
When encouraged to describe the difference between the BMGIM process and other
therapeutic processes participants underlined the qualities and effects of the music in
the process: the music made it easier to let go of physiological and psychological
tension; it would evoke, stimulate and even ‘push’ the imagery in a productive way;
the BMGIM session was considered a deeper emotional experience than the more
intellectual, ‘technical’ or cognitive outcome of visualization techniques or verbal
therapy sessions. Images familiar from visualization were described as ‘coming to
life’ and unfolding in a dynamic way in BMGIM. Participants found it most important
that the BMGIM process was not focused on the participant as a ‘cancer patient’ or
‘cancer survivor dealing with symptoms’, but as a whole person, with physiological,
psychological and spiritual needs, in a process focusing on resources and directed
towards the future. One participant described the BMGIM experience as close to
healing, enabling the participant to reach a state of self-awareness and serenity,
including a rich experience of potentials, clarity and development. The experience
was described as more playful with music than without (as in healing).
The comments made by participants on the issue “Potential of GIM in other treatment
phases” from the interviews (see checklist table 6.1) was addressed by five of six
participants, and offers important issues for consideration in this discussion. All five
participants assumed that they would have benefited from BMGIM earlier in the
process, i.e. after diagnosis, in the treatment phase, during radiation or chemotherapy.
This phase is especially characterized by anxiety, depression, and emotional chaos (as
one participant said “It is hard work to be ill in a hospital!”), and participants
suggested that BMGIM sessions in this phase might have a revised format and
purpose: sessions should be shorter and music primarily gentle and supportive, with
the process more focused on relaxation, anxiety and stress management. In this way
BMGIM sessions could function as a complementary intervention, and it was
suggested that sessions should be scheduled in the weeks between chemotherapy or
322